A Slower Style of Life- Australian Pioneer Village, Wilberforce

With an early 1800s village streetscape and experiences that take you back in time, the Australian Pioneering Village presents and offers you a real life example of what life in Australia was once like- a time where things were slower and more relaxed.

About
An open heritage museum, the Australian Pioneer Village is a careful collection of once endangered heritage homes and buildings. Located on what was once farmland, it is less than a 10 minute drive from Australia’s third oldest colonized town of Windsor. Run entirely by dedicated volunteers, this special place is open every Sunday, extending to open every Tuesday and Wednesday during the school holidays.

Entree for the entire day is free for children under the ages of 5, $3 for school aged children, $5 for adults, and $15 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children- and with a wide outdoors area for bikes and running around, heritage buildings on display, and a tractor and train ride for both parents and children to enjoy, you’ll find that this village is a great and unique place to take the family.

The Grounds
The Australian Pioneer Village is set on 28 acres of picnic grounds, and provides BBQ cook tops and picnic tables across the village- inviting its visitors to sit back, relax, whilst also giving the ability to enjoy a nice picnic.

The Village
A strip of shops standing side by side along both sides of an uncemented road, the village area is the true representation of an 1800s town, with everything you would typically find in an 1800s village, including a church, blacksmith’s, eateries, a candy store, bank, police station, and more. Although not all of these buildings and stores may be running with their original purposes, visitors are able to develop an understanding of how Australia has developed over the years from what once used to be.

Bushell’s Lagoon
A little further from the village section, is ‘Bushell’s Lagoon’. Quiet and serene, this lagoon is located next to sheep and horse pens, BBQ grills, and picnic benches. For those who enjoy a more secluded place, they’ll find this place a nice break away. The lagoon also has a little boardwalk that extends over the water for people to look over into the water.

Pros and Cons
The idea of the APV is a truly great one, as it allows Australians to be able to experience the history of the culture of the country that they live in. Although the non-Indigenous Australian history may be quite short, it is what our lifestyles and cultures today have stemmed from, and it is something that every Australian can and should understand and appreciate.
As the APV is run entirely on dedicated volunteers, it was a little difficult to understand and find a lot of information on this place prior to my visit. Although with a little research and deciphering, there is nothing no one can’t find, it would be a lot easier for most people to be able to find updated information online.

Overall Experience
My overall experience at the APV was an interesting one. What was once only taught to be through pictures and book at school, I was able to experience in a day and age where such things are difficult to come across. And although I feel this experience would be best for children and families with children, I feel that the APV it is a place that any Australian can truly appreciate and should visit at least once in their lives.

Reference
https://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-north/hawkesbury/attractions/the-australiana-pioneer-village
http://theapv.org.au/village/