The Village
Stroll down memory lane and experience the lifestyles of the hard-working pioneers as they struggled to tame this once harsh landscape. See how they battled drought, heat, and rabbit plagues and transformed dry mallee plains into farms that produce some of the best cereal grain crops in the country.
The stories of the early settlers and their families are displayed in over 45 buildings and exhibits. Each building is fully furnished with fascinating displays and memorabilia. Learn how the townsfolk and farmers lived, where they went to church and school, and what they bought from the store and the paddle-steamers that visited regularly.
Experience an operational fruit block, visit the bakery, the bank, the blacksmith, the printer, the motor garage, the school, the Institute, and even the dentist -
if you dare!
Village Alive Days
The Loxton Historical Village hosts special “Village Alive Days” three times a year. Staff and volunteers dress in period costume bringing the village “alive” with working exhibits for visitors to experience the full colour and magic of life from a bygone era.
Some things you might experience at a Village Alive Day:
- Sheep shearing demonstrations (Blade shears to wide comb).
- Delicious aromas of freshly baked bread from the Bakery.
- Smoke from the hardworking Blacksmith's shop
- Printing Office in full operation.The clever art of wood turning.
- Entertainment from the exceptional village entertainers.
- Carousel and Quad rides for the children.
- Displays of collectables and hobbies.
- Vintage vehicle parades and demonstrations.
The History
Foundations for the Loxton Historical Village were laid in 1970 when the Loxton National Trust branch built a pug and pine replica of "Loxton's Hut".
William Charles Loxton (after whom the town was named) was a boundary rider on Bookpurnong Station and Loxton's first settler.
Farm buildings have been modelled on original structures around the district, including a pine slab shearing shed and stable, and a barn made of mallee stumps.
A bank, once operating at Geranium, and a railway station sited originally at Yinkanie together with a barber shop and one of the most comprehensive displays of old dental equipment in Australia, are features not to be missed.
The Clarion newspaper office (Loxton's first paper) houses antique printing machines. The 1920's style garage, designed by the Riverland Vintage and Classic Car Club, is home to some beautiful old cars and motorcycles.
A vast area is dedicated to the Irrigation Museum.On display here is a Nissan Hut which was the living quarters for the returned servicemen and their families. The Hut gives an authentic account of what living conditions were like in those days. A small vineyard and orchard have been developed to show the irrigation scheme. Other equipment used are also on display.
From its humble beginning, the Village continues to grow. The interest and appreciation shown by visitors highlight what a wonderful tourist attraction Loxton has.
