We visited Coal Creek about five years ago and enjoyed it. It’s like Sovereign Hill without the hype. When we visited a few weeks ago we were amazed to discover it is now FREE to enter. Not too many attractions actually become cheaper with time, let alone free!

Coal Creek Heritage Village is built on the site of an original black coal mine in Korumburra, South Gippsland. The village depicts life in a Coal Mining Town between the 1870s - 1920s, covering over 30 acres of bushland, with over 60 exhibits. Even though admission is free there are a few opportunities to spend your money, one is Garrard’s Café by the lake. A quaint homestead offering some hearty country style food. On a cold South Gippsland afternoon the soup and damper was hard to beat and there is of course Devonshire tea - it should be mandatory to have Devonshire tea at all historic villages!

There are some very educational, fun things to do, however as the village is staffed largely by volunteers not all of the activities operate all the time. It’s a good idea to call in advance and check what’s on when you are planning to visit. Here are some of the activities on offer:

• Ride the Bush Tramway in open carriages of the diesel tram as it meanders through the village and bushland.
• Bush Tractor Village Ride - Climb aboard the dray for a trip behind “The Red Rocket” around the village.
• Coal Mining Experience- Children wear mining hats and carry lamps into the mine tunnel* to experience conditions of the pioneering coal miners. Chat with a miner, who will demonstrate some of the tools used for digging the coal. (*SUBJECT TO AVAILABLILTY)
• School Lesson (Years 3 To 6) - School lesson in the old Jeetho Schoolhouse, incorporating the use of Nibbed Pen and Ink.
• Pioneer Timber Skills (Years 3-6) - The Pioneer skills specialist demonstrates the use of Broad Axes to show how “Bush Skills” were used to build dwellings and furniture, etc.
• Bush Cooking - Create “tucker” as the pioneers did. Billy tea and damper.

Getting There

Located forty-five minutes from Phillip Island, approximately ninety minutes from Melbourne’s CBD and on the direct route to Wilson’s Promontory, getting to Coal Creek is a breeze.

Hours

Open Thursday to Monday
10.00am to 4.30pm
Group or School bookings 7 days

Admission Price

FREE! - The price alone makes it a ‘must visit’.