Highfields Pioneer Village is a heritage village at 73 Wirraglen Road, Highfields, about 20 minutes by car north of Toowoomba. It brings together museums, heritage buildings and the restored Big Cow on one site, and it suits a half-day out from Toowoomba.
Opening times differ from one attraction to the next, so ring the village on (07) 4696 6309 before you visit to confirm what is open on your day. The village sells tickets online and has EFTPOS facilities.
What to see at Highfields Pioneer Village
Toowoomba Fire Brigade Museum
This collection follows firefighting in Toowoomba from 1877. It holds uniforms, badges, records and photographs, plus more than six historic fire engines. It is included in village entry. The village lists it as open 11:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1 pm to 3 pm, seven days a week.
Ambulance Museum
The Ambulance Museum covers more than 100 years of ambulance services in Queensland, including local people and events, and first aid equipment and memorabilia from both world wars. It is included in entry and is listed as open 10 am to 4 pm, seven days a week.
Southern Cross Museum
The Southern Cross Museum tells the story of the Toowoomba Foundry and what it made, including the Southern Cross windmill. The Southern Cross name was adopted in 1903 for the foundry’s wind-powered water pumps, and the foundry built steam, petrol, kerosene and diesel engines for 74 years before it closed in 2012. The museum is staffed by volunteers from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 3 pm daily.
The Big Cow
The Big Cow is a concrete sculpture made in the 1970s by Hugh Anderson, who also sculpted the Big Bulls in Rockhampton. It stood at a dairy farm on Ayrshire Road until it was donated to the village in 2019. It was cut in two and moved to Highfields on 10 January 2020, then reassembled by volunteers on new footings and officially opened on 20 September 2020. The village’s Big Cow page lists it as open daily 10 am to 4 pm.
Chapel, silversmith and toy shop
The village also has a Heritage Chapel, a Village Silversmith, a toy shop selling handmade wooden toys and a reconstructed slab cottage.
Events at the village
The village runs events through the year. Its events page lists miniature steam train and vintage bus running days on Sunday 29 November and Australia Day celebrations on Tuesday 26 January, and the village also advertises a Santa Express photo experience. Tickets for events are sold through the village website, and dates change, so check the events page before you plan around one.
Groups of more than ten can book a damper and billy tea experience, made in the style of early settlers. Guided tours are available for coach groups, and the village also takes school groups.
Planning your visit
- Entry: Adults $20, concession and students $15, children aged 5 to 15 $8, and a family ticket (2 adults and 4 children) $50. Under 5s and carers are free. The village’s site says these prices start at those figures.
- Booking: Tickets can be bought on the village website. You can also ring (07) 4696 6309.
- Payment: There are EFTPOS facilities at the village.
- Food: The village website has menu and online order pages, so ask when you ring what is available on the day.
- Toilets, parking and accessibility: The village’s pages do not say, so ask when you ring.
Getting there and parking
The village is at 73 Wirraglen Road, Highfields, north of the middle of Toowoomba. It takes about 20 minutes by car from Toowoomba CBD and about 125 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD.
Nearby
- Cobb and Co Museum – another Toowoomba heritage collection, with horse-drawn coaches.
- Queens Park – the botanic gardens and playgrounds in the middle of Toowoomba.
- Japanese Gardens – Ju Raku En, a quiet walk.
- Picnic Point – a lookout over the range.
- Empire Theatre and Strand Theatre – for an evening in town.
- Oakey – the Army Flying Museum and country town stops west of Toowoomba.
- More in the museums and Toowoomba categories.
You might also like
- RAAF Museum Amberley (Ipswich)
- Brisbane Tramway Museum (Ferny Grove)
- Brisbane Planetarium (Toowong)
Quick answers
How much does Highfields Pioneer Village cost?
Adults are $20, concession and students $15, children aged 5 to 15 $8 and a family of 2 adults and 4 children $50. Under 5s and carers are free.
Where is Highfields Pioneer Village?
It is at 73 Wirraglen Road, Highfields, about 20 minutes by car north of Toowoomba CBD.
Is the Big Cow at Highfields Pioneer Village?
Yes. The Big Cow was moved to the village in January 2020 from a dairy farm on Ayrshire Road and officially opened there on 20 September 2020.
What museums are at Highfields Pioneer Village?
There are the Toowoomba Fire Brigade Museum, the Ambulance Museum and the Southern Cross Museum. The first two are included in entry.
What days is Highfields Pioneer Village open?
The village’s Big Cow page lists daily 10 am to 4 pm and its museum pages list seven days a week, but the village’s own program is not clear on the whole site. Ring (07) 4696 6309 before you go.
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