9. Historical Village & Museum
Location: 13 Zephyr Street, Scarness, Hervey Bay
While perhaps not traditionally seen as a historic area, Hervey Bay provides visitors with the chance to step back in time with a visit to the Historical Village and Museum exhibit. Home to a variety of buildings and themed memorabilia dating back as far as 1873, you'll walk away with new knowledge about the region's history.
A must-visit for the history buff, the site encompasses 19 period-specific buildings each containing a range of exhibits from the early days of Hervey Bay's formation including household and farm items for use both in and outdoors from the 1800s.
Each of the buildings has specific theming, with highlights including an 1800's-era country house and a convenience store stocked with a range of knick-knacks that serve as a striking reminder as to how much times have changed.
Other items such as vintage vehicles and army memorabilia round out the static offerings, which are augmented by a number of live displays and interactive opportunities. Visitors will have the chance to see various old-world arts and crafts such as blacksmith and woodturning demonstrations, and even take part in learning and trying their hand at traditional rope-making techniques.
Kids, will love the toy displays and games of these olden times that aim to involve the whole family, and the opportunities for learning and gaining and appreciation for current technology here are palpable.
The Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum is staffed and kept up to scratch by a group of passionate volunteers from the local historical society who have done an outstanding job of continually growing and adding to the museum over the years.
There's an entry fee that goes towards the not-insubstantial maintenance of the attraction, and given that it offers several potential hours of historic entertainment and insight towards a good cause, it's well worth the investment.
The Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum is open for public visits during the afternoon and sits in a convenient location just off the esplanade making for easy access from most accommodation situated near the waterfront.
It's a great little embodiment of what life used to be like not just in Hervey Bay but Australia as a whole, and given its uniqueness it's a charming little slice of life from a couple of centuries ago that offers something few other spots can.
