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Date: December 2004
Location: Western Downs, Queensland Australia
What do you think this is? said my host, as he handed me something that looked like a piece of fossilised cow manure. A cow pat, I replied hopefully. Close, he smiled, it's a dinosaur pat!
And so began my visit to the Chinchilla Historical Museum, with its painstakingly gathered collection of memorabilia celebrating the history of this district which is rich in cattle, grain, dairying, sheep, timber and more recently melons, grapes, stones fruits and vegetables.
As you travel through the Western Downs along the Warrego Highway, it's
hard not to notice that just about every centre along the way, large or small,
has its own museum or historical centre. Local pride and a strong sense of history
are alive and well! While it would take days to explore them, we did manage a
few in the limited time available and each had their own sense of belonging.
Whether the round lumpy object being presented to me in Chinchilla really was a dinosaur dropping or not, I'm not sure, but apparently the lady who'd given it to the museum claimed it was. All the same it made a great story and it certainly caught the attention of my children.
Hard to the touch, the pat could be millions of years old, yet if it is left in the sun for a short period it apparently becomes quite spongy. This curios' home is a locked glass cabinet in the new entrance building, which when fully utilised will display an extensive petrified rock collection. Plans are also afoot to write to the dinosaur donor and obtain more history on the item.
Dinosaur dung aside, the museum contains a substantial collection of farm machinery, a 1900 Steam Sawmill that looks like it processed some impressive logs in its time, a collection of steam, oil, petrol engines and tractors, and a number of restored motor and horse drawn vehicles, along with other early farm equipment.
The buildings on site include the old Chinchilla Gaol complete with charred
sections from a fire lit by a disgruntled cell occupant, the first Chinchilla
State School (built in 1883), Blacksmiths Shop, Cream Dairy, slab cottage, a country
dance hall and Chinchillas original Railway Signal Box. The museum also incorporates
the Kathleen Emmerson Library which houses a valuable collection historical records,
maps and books relevant to the region. It can only be accessed by special request.
A further 90 minutes west is the Miles Historical Village, the doyen of
historical villages in the region. Opened in 1971, it is immaculately presented
and contains more exhibits than can be named. It also gives the visitor the chance
to take a step back in time as they stroll down the main street of the village
with its variety of stores including a post office (with old phone directories
and the telephone exchange), a store, caf, police station adorned with Wanted
Posters, doctors rooms complete with archaic theatre equipment, hotel, school
and blacksmiths shop.
The 21 authentic buildings contained with the village certainly ooze history and for anyone born before the 1960s should bring back many memories. For younger visitors it is simply an eye opener as to how things used to be in the good ol days - except perhaps when it comes to medical practices and modern day kitchen facilities and appliances!
The collection of steam engines is in working order and local volunteers are only too happy to start them up with a quick turn of the wheel, the Artesian Bore exhibit is a watery welcome in this dry part of the world and an air-conditioned building displaying a donated, private collection of semi-precious stones and shells is both cool and colourful.
Aboriginal artefacts, household and everyday articles from the early days and mementos from both World Wars are also housed in the Village.
While not strictly in the Western Downs, more the Darling Downs, it's worth calling
in to Oakey on the western side of Toowoomba for a step back in aerial time. The
Flypast Museum of Australian Army Flying provides a comprehensive insight
into the history of the Army's aviators, and is a must for all flying enthusiasts.
Located at the Oakey Airfield, the national home of Australian Army Aviation, the museum is housed within four huge hangars and displays aircraft ranging from box kite planes through to Blackhawk helicopters. Almost all are in working order and every so often are wheeled out onto the runway, some to fly, some to have their engines turned over.
Lovingly restored by enthusiastic volunteers these machines all have a story to tell, and if you are lucky enough to get a tour of the facility, do so because you will learn so much more, although the signage is very informative.
Much of the very early memorabilia stored in the museum provides a glimpse into the history of all airmen in the Australian Armed Services because the Royal Australian Air Force did not actually come into being until 1921. From 1912-21 Australian Army Aviation was known as the Australian Flying Corps and the first Victoria Cross to be awarded to an Australian airman was won by an Army Lieutenant in the AFC in 1917.
The Chinchilla Historical Museum is open daily except on public holidays, Wednesday to Monday, 8am-4pm. Closed on Tuesdays.
The Oakey Air Museum is open Wednesday - Sunday and during public and school holidays from 10am-4pm.
For more information:
Chinchilla Historical Museum
Tel +61 7 4662 7014
Toowoomba and Golden West Regional Tourist Association
Tel +61 7 4632 1988
- By Adrienne Costin
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