Highfields Pioneer Village home of the Big Cow

05/11/2026

🚑 Behind every siren, there is a story.

For over 120 years, ordinary Queenslanders have run towards danger to save their neighbours. At Highfields Pioneer Village we're building a new Ambulance Museum to keep those stories alive, and to teach 4,000+ school kids ambulance history, CPR, snake bite first aid and more every year.

We've secured $125,545 and need $18,937 more to get this building out of the ground.

👉 Donate (tax deductible over $2): https://www.gofundme.com/f/highfields-ambulance-museum-w9c8s

Please share 💚

Proudly supported by the Gambling Community Benefit Fund as part of the Queensland Government, Heritage Bank Highfields and Crows Nest, and PCCN Ltd.

02/11/2026

🌟 **WE NEED YOU! JOIN OUR VOLUNTEER TEAM!** 🌟

🐄🚌 **Highfields Pioneer Village is looking for volunteers!**

Do you have a few spare hours a month? Would you love to meet new people, share your skills and help keep our local history alive?

❤️ **We'd love to welcome you to our team!**

Whether you enjoy:

🌻 Gardening
🔨 Carpentry & Restoration
🧵 Sewing & Traditional Crafts
☕ Hospitality & Welcoming Visitors
🏫 Helping with School Groups
🚌 Sharing History & Guiding Tours
💻 Data Entry & Administration

**Or perhaps you have a special skill we haven't thought of? We'd love to hear about it!**

⏰ **No need to commit every day!** Whether you have a couple of hours a month or more time to spare, every helping hand makes a difference.

🌟 **Why volunteer with us?**

✅ Meet wonderful, like-minded people
✅ Help preserve our local heritage
✅ Share your knowledge and learn new skills
✅ Enjoy free Village entry with membership
✅ Be part of a friendly, welcoming team

🌟 **CENTRELINK APPROVED VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY!** 🌟

💚 **Annual Membership: $35 per person**, including NHMA membership and volunteer insurance.

📍 Highfields Pioneer Village, 73 Wirraglen Road, Highfields QLD
📞 07 4696 6309
📧 [email protected]

🌿 **MAKE A DIFFERENCE – KEEP OUR HISTORY ALIVE!** 🌿

👉 **Interested? Give us a call, send us a message or pop into the Village for a chat!**

Please share this post with anyone who might enjoy being part of our wonderful volunteer team. ❤️

22/10/2026

This Sunday 25th from 10am to 2:30pm is Train day at the Highfields Pioneer Village enjoy a Sausage Sizzle, Billy Tea & Damper, see the Toowoomba Fire Museum and the Ambulance Museum, Shearing the Sheep, and the newly restored 1913 Model T Bus!
https://www.highfieldspioneervillage.com.au/

10/10/2026

📸 SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO AT HIGHFIELDS PIONEER VILLAGE! 🐮🌿

A huge THANK YOU to Cortex Media for capturing these wonderful photos showcasing the history, heritage and charm of our beautiful Village! ❤️

☕ Fancy a traditional Billy Tea?

Come along and enjoy a good old-fashioned cuppa, lovingly prepared by our wonderful volunteers! 🫖🔥

Our friendly volunteers are here every day from 10am to 4pm, ready to welcome you and share a little taste of the past.

While you're here, take a stroll through our historic buildings, explore our fascinating museums and, of course, say hello to our famous Big Cow! 🐮

❤️ A special thank you to our dedicated volunteers who keep our pioneering traditions alive, and to Cortex Media for these fantastic photos!

📍 Highfields Pioneer Village – Home of the Big Cow
73 Wirraglen Road, Highfields QLD

🕙 Open daily 10am–4pm

🌿 History • Heritage • Family Fun!

02/10/2026

A BIG thank you to David Illiffe from the ABC for this great interview with our Volunteer Manager Ray Ashford OAM, check it out yourself at the 2hr mark.

Start your day with a healthy breakfast.

28/09/2026

🦜 BRING YOUR BINOCULARS — IT’S BIRD WATCHING TIME AT THE BIG COW! 🔭🌿
While you’re exploring Highfields Pioneer Village, slow down, look up into the trees and see how many of our wild native birds you can spot! Join us for bird watching at 11am & 3pm daily during the Holidays.

Keep your eyes and ears open for beautiful visitors including Rainbow Lorikeets, Scaly-breasted Lorikeets, Australian King-Parrots, Pale-headed Rosellas, Galahs, Little Lorikeets, Lewin’s Honeyeaters, Superb Fairywrens, Australian Brushturkeys, Laughing Kookaburras and more. 🦜🐦

🔭 Bird Watching — 11am & 3pm Daily
🌳 Watch for wild birds throughout the Village grounds
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A lovely activity for children, parents and grandparents
📅 28 September to 5 October 2026
📍 Highfields Pioneer Village

The birds are completely wild and free, so every bird-watching session can be different — see how many species your family can spot! ❤️

🐄The Big Cow — where history, heritage, nature and family fun come together.

28/09/2026

🌸 A LITTLE PIECE OF PIONEER HISTORY 🌸
Step back in time during the School Holidays and discover the historic Slab Hut at Highfields Pioneer Village.

Originally built by George Griinke and his brother on their Groomsville property, the Slab Hut was later relocated to Alan and Ruth Griinke’s property at Gowrie Mountain before being carefully reconstructed at Highfields Pioneer Village.

The hut now stands as a tribute to our pioneers, offering visitors a glimpse into the simple way our forebears lived. Research by Matthew Herron discovered that the Raatz Stone Cookhouse originally stood on an adjoining property. Today, both historic buildings are preserved at the Village and once again stand approximately 100 metres apart, just as they did originally.

🔥 Ray Ashford OAM even spent a night in the Slab Hut! He recalls that it was surprisingly warm, while the many natural air vents in the slab walls allowed the fire to draw extremely well—with no smoke in the room.

The hut has been furnished to reflect its period and is proudly on display as our Non-Profit Garden Competition Entrant during September.

🌼 Come and wander through the garden, explore the Slab Hut and experience a wonderful piece of our pioneering past.

🪙 Gold Coin Donations are warmly welcomed.

📍 Highfields Pioneer Village
73 Wirraglen Road, Highfields
🐄 Festival at the Big Cow
📅 18 September – 5 October 2026
⏰ 9am–5pm

History • Heritage • Community • Family Fun!

28/09/2026

🚑 SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN AT THE AMBULANCE MUSEUM! 🚑

Come along to Highfields Pioneer Village these school holidays and discover the fascinating history of our ambulance services and the important role they have played in our community.

Meet our friendly volunteers, see early first aid and ambulance equipment, hear fascinating stories from the past and learn how ambulance services and equipment have changed through the years.

There’s plenty for curious kids and grown-ups alike to discover!

📅 Tuesday
⏰ 10am–12 noon
📍 Highfields Pioneer Village
73 Wirraglen Road, Highfields QLD 4352

❤️ History • Heritage • Community • Family Fun!