What’s happening?
Baralaba Historical Village celebrated its 40th anniversary on Saturday, 2 August 2025, with a full day of nostalgia, entertainment, and heartfelt stories.
Locals and visitors gathered at 37 Wooroonah Street to honour four decades since the village was founded by Tinny and Colin Major. The open day featured vintage displays, morning tea, food stalls, and live music that stretched into the evening.
The celebration was hosted by Tinny’s daughters, Marilyn Roser and Polly Bromley, who continue to preserve the historical village and their parents’ vision. “It is remarkable really. Forty years seems to have crept up on us quite quickly,” Marilyn said. “But when we stop and think about it, we’ve certainly ticked a lot of boxes and made 40 years count.”
Why it matters
This milestone marks not only the endurance of one woman’s passion for preserving the past, but also the role a family can play in keeping local history alive. From its humble beginnings with a single cottage, the village has grown into a rich time capsule of early rural life. It has hosted weddings, birthdays, funerals, and countless community events. “We’ve had all the 21sts here. We’ve had weddings here. We’ve had funerals here,” Polly shared. “People love it and then they don’t want to go home.”
More than a museum, Baralaba Historical Village is a living, breathing record of how Australians once lived, worked, and gathered. It is a place where stories are not only displayed, but also shared and relived.
By the numbers:
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40 years since Tinny and Colin Major first opened the village in 1985
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$10 entry on the open day included morning tea, with kids admitted for free
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2 historic homes, Slater Cottage and the McCrone Home, were the first buildings relocated to the site
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1 private collection, making it one of the few privately owned historical villages in Australia
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Tinny’s love for old objects and disdain for waste sparked the idea. “She just loves old stuff and hated anyone throwing anything out,” Polly said. The couple visited other museums while travelling and decided Baralaba needed one of its own. Tinny drove the vision while Colin handled the hands-on work. “They paid to get every building moved. They did have volunteers help, but they did pay people to help as well,” Polly added.
Buildings like Slater Cottage, once likely to be knocked down, were rescued. “Slater Cottage would have had bagged walls and possibly a dirt floor,” Polly explained. The McCrone Home, she noted, “would have been pretty flash in the 1920s” compared to the tin huts and tents common at the time.
Inside the homes are thousands of preserved items, from manual beaters to kerosene lamps. “Yes, it is a time warp,” Marilyn said. “We do have very good memories of it.” She recalled how their father would return from Rockhampton with fish and chips, and they would reheat them on the wood stove. “That was a very favourite meal,” she smiled.
Cleaning and maintaining the village is now a labour of love for the sisters. “It is very enjoyable, just looking at the things much more closely,” Marilyn said. “Because when we’ve got something on, we’re just flying in and out.”
Zoom Out
Few privately owned heritage villages of this size remain in Australia. The Majors’ decision to relocate and restore buildings set this village apart from publicly funded heritage sites. Over the years, the family and local community have stepped in to keep it running.
The village is not open daily, but hosts special events and opens its doors to visiting groups. “We’ve just had a group come from Rocky, only 15 or something, but they really enjoyed it,” Polly said. “I have community things here, like fundraisers as well.” While not a commercial attraction, the village continues to draw those who want to connect with the past.
Local Impact
Baralaba locals hold a deep affection for the site. “People have told us that they believe it’s one of the best in Australia,” Marilyn said. The tightly packed displays might feel cluttered to some, but she defends the density with pride. “It’s everything that she’s collected and wants on display,” she said. Without that collection, many of the items could have ended up in the tip.
During the anniversary open day, the community shared morning tea, bought burgers for lunch, and enjoyed savoury mince for dinner. Free entertainment kicked off from 2 PM and ran into the evening. Tinny even made an appearance to see the celebration. “Mum is coming down for a look for a while,” Marilyn said.
Marilyn also shared a cherished family memory. “When Mum and Dad had first established it, they had dinner parties in this room. They would light the wood stove, usually have a corn meat dinner, and a friend of theirs played the piano. So they’d have a sing-along. That was very special for them.” She later hosted the same kind of evening for her own friends from Brisbane.
What to look for next
While the buildings are showing signs of age and maintenance is ongoing, the sisters hope the next generation will carry the torch. “It would be a good camping spot for travellers as well,” Polly suggested, hinting at future possibilities. For now, they remain proud caretakers of what is clearly one of Baralaba’s most treasured landmarks.
