Capella Pioneer Village

The 1869 'Peak Downs' Homestead is the largest restored station homestead of its kind in Australia, and is the centrepiece of the Capella Pioneer Village complex on the Gregory Highway at Capella, in Queensland's Central Highlands region. 60,000 wooden 40 by 10 centimetre shingles make up the roof. No nails, nor any other fasteners, were used in the pit sawn spotted gum timber walls. The Capella Pioneer Village also boasts the woolshed from 'Gordon Downs' station that has a tale to tell about the Central Highlands origins of the 1891 Great Shearers Strike. Ask about the sabotage attack on the military train. Wonder at the magnitude of the post World War Two 'Food and Britain' scheme. The Queensland British Food Corporation held 200,000 hectares of open downs grasslands across the Highlands in 1949 and had 27,000 hectares under crop in 1950. The operational headquarters were at Capella. Come and see the tractors and farming machinery and learn of the people who worked to make that feat possible. Join in the fun of the annual Craft Fair and Vintage Machinery Rally, held on the second Saturday in September. Coach and school groups are always welcome.