Head west from Brisbane and – after about four hours on the bitumen – you’ll come to the country town of Miles, a little place with a big reputation for heritage attractions.
First up, there’s the Miles Historical Village – arguably one of country Australia’s finest outdoor museums.
More than 34 individual buildings – many original, some replicas – make up a village street scene from a pioneer rural settlement of the late 1800s.
Each impressive structure is a mini-museum in its own right – filled with memorabilia that dates from the 19th through to the mid-20th century. Bank, butcher, school, garage, train station – even an old milk-bar – create the feeling of wandering the set of a period movie.
The village is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. It’s also home to the Miles Visitor Information Centre – a great place to gather ideas for further sightseeing.
Just down the road from the village is the Creek Café – a distinctive red brick building that housed the town’s bank in days gone by. It’s now the place in Miles to get a quality coffee fix or tasty meal – plus you can shop for gifts, fashion and fresh flowers at the Flower Shed.
If you’re keen to stay a little longer in Miles, there’s the option to continue the heritage theme at nearby Possum Park.
What was once a major World War II munitions dump is now a peaceful place to pitch a tent, park a caravan – or settle into one of the unique accommodation options.
Stay in an underground bunker, renovated troop train, or a modern self-contained cabin that overlooks an aircraft hangar!
The hangar is home to a vintage TAA Vickers Viscount aircraft, which is being lovingly restored on site. You can also check out the World War II museum, which features war-time memorabilia, including weapons and uniforms.
