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Set amongst the graceful landscape of Old Petrie Town, the Pine Rivers Heritage Museum is a stylish new attraction that encourages visitors to explore the district’s historic character through the permanent and every changing special displays.
The museum is fully air-conditioned and there is always something new to see as we continue to build one of the best regional museums in the State, making it an ideal family outing.
Entry is free
Contact details
Old Petrie Town, Dayboro Road, Kurwongbah
Opening times
- Wednesday to Friday: 10.00am - 3.00pm
- Saturdays: 10.00am - 2.00pm
- Sundays (October to March): 9.00am - 2.00pm
- Sundays (April to September): 10.00am - 3.00pm
What you'll see
For a full list of exhibitions and workshops, see our:
An animated theatrette provides an entertaining overview of our development, and other displays.
These include the Old Schoolroom, Yebri House, Supplying the Building Trade and the stories of our explorers and early settlers provides colour and fascinating detail to our tale.
Several times a year we create new temporary exhibitions focussed on a variety of subjects. Past shows have included:
- Cowpaddocks to Cartonboard - fifty years of production at the Petrie Paper Mill
- Wheelspin - the history of motorsports in the Pine Rivers
- 13 - 19 Teenagers - then & now comparison between baby boomer and generation Y teenagers
We also regularly host touring exhibitions from the Australian War Memorial, Questacon Science Museum, the State Library of Queensland, the Ipswich Rail Workshops, and the Queensland Museum just to name a few.
Permanent displays
- Object Theatre
We follow the Pine Rivers story through the eyes of the young Edgar Foreman, and meet his great-great-great granddaughter, Ellie. It starts in the 1840s when European settlement in this area first took place, and concludes with the Pine Rivers of today. The object theatre uses moving objects, video, sound and light effects to keep you entertained for the full duration.
- Mountains to Mangroves
The natural environment plays an important part in the lives of our Pine Rivers residents. This display features some of the habitats found in our geographical area.
- Explorers
Follow in the tracks of the adventurous trio of Parsons, Finnegan and Pamplett, and learn about their role in helping John Oxley to finally discover the Pine and Brisbane Rivers
- The Migrant Experience
Where did our pioneer ancestors come from, and what did they bring with them as they attempted to start new lives in an unknown land?
- Supplying the Building Trade
The harvesting of timber, clay and stone were the founding industries that drove exploration and settlement throughout the district, and provided the foundation building materials of our State. See historic film footage of early timber-getters and stonecutters, examine samples of the many timbers extracted from our forests, and consider the clays reformed as crockery, bricks and tiles.
- Yebri House
Historic Yebri House was the original farm workers cottage on the Petrie Homestead. A Campbell pre-fab kit house built in the late 1880s, it is now restored and presented in the 1920s era. A wonderful glimpse into life before electricity and reticulated water.
School activities
The Pine Rivers Heritage Museum provides an opportunity to explore life, including the history of our own area with a number of specialised displays, activities and exhibits for school tours.
An education officer is available to discuss your requirements and tailor programmes to support classroom learning.
Educational programs
The following educational programs are currently available:
- Museum Visit
Students will discover fascinating objects and stories as they explore inside the Museum. The visit includes an entertaining 20 minute multimedia presentation which tells the history of the Pine Rivers area and its people. Students will also have the opportunity to explore other museum displays. The recommended time for this visit is 1 hour.
Cost: Free
- Temporary Exhibitions
Throughout the year, the Pine Rivers Heritage Museum hosts a number of touring exhibitions and develops its own temporary displays. Current program is listed above. Teachers may choose this option within the all day program.
Cost: Free
- Discovery and Journey Session
This is a whole day option, starting at 9:30am and finishing no later than 2:30pm, depending on the number of activities chosen. Students are divided into groups and rotate between the different activities on offer, with each activity lasting 40 mins. Max number of students 75 with larger groups able to divide their visit over two days.
Cost: $4.00 per student
Activities
The following activities are currently available:
- Museum tour
Watch the 20 minute multimedia presentation telling a short history of the area. Followed by a guided tour of the museum's permanent displays. Highlights include the objects early settlers used to build their homes and start their new lives.
- Old school
Sit in a classroom of yesteryear, discover what school was like in the last century; write on a slate and learn about nib pens.
- Butter making
Make butter and taste a sample. Discover what life was like on a dairy farm for children in the past.
- Yebri - Home life
Discover what home life was like in the days before electricity. Includes hands-on experience of museum objects.
- Living with trees
Discover how Aboriginal people and early European Settlers used trees for food and making a place to live.
- Temporary display
Explore one of the temporary displays.
School Bookings
Excursions to the Pine Rivers Heritage Museum can be booked. Bookings are available Monday to Friday, all year round.
Pre-visit and follow-up activities are available from the Museum. Please contact the Museum for further information on (07) 3285 7213.
Volunteering
Volunteers perform very important roles at the Pine Rivers Heritage Museum. We are always seeking customer care and collection admin officers to work from Wednesday to Sunday. Volunteer roles at the museum are:
- Customer care officer - front desk duties, bookshop sales, phone inquiries and visitor orientation
- Maintenance officers - maintenance and installation of displays
- Collections admin officers - catalogue collection onto the computer database
- Collections care officers - preventive conservation applied to collection
- School-activities guides - guide and instruct visiting school groups
Training is provided for all roles.
Meeting room
Imagine having your next meeting in a beautiful natural setting right next to the quaint shops and cafes of Old Petrie Town. This is now possible at the meeting room in the Pine Rivers Heritage Museum including:
- Seats 35 people seminar style / 20 around a table
- VCR/DVD, data projector & white board
- Kitchen with coffee making facilities
The rental fee is $31.00 per hour 8.00am - 5.00pm or $60.00 per hour 5.00pm - 9.00pm.