It was perfect weather for everything except perhaps working over an open fire … volunteer John Armstrong was showing visitors how to cook damper in a camp oven over hot coals
October 8, 2026
Old-time skills were on display again at the Queensland Dairy and Heritage Museum’s annual Heritage Day in Murgon last Saturday.
The weather was perfect for the popular family day out, which is also an important fundraiser for the group which runs the museum.
There were rope making, spinning, damper-making, blacksmithing and other demonstrations, including, of course, milking dairy cattle!
Visitors also had the opportunity to watch a plough horse in action or take a cart ride.
They pored over the local history and memorabilia packed into the historic buildings which have been moved to the site over the years.
The refurbished “Our History” building proved popular.
Volunteers were also kept very busy at the barbecue and in the canteen.
Jenny Bishop, from Murgon, and Bev Chisholm and Tracey Sporne, from Wondai, were inspecting the exhibits in the History Shed (and discussing the local Ned Kelly legend of Steve Hart / Billy Meade)Murgon Dairy Museum volunteers Rose Heath and Joy Fennell were being kept busy in the canteenThe Jenkins family brought along their rope-making equipment which weaves together three strands …… and this is the result … Malcolm Jenkins, from Kanigan, with the tightly wound three-strand ropeCharlie and Lynda Steele, from Murgon, were making damper from scratch …John Armstrong was keeping the coals hot for the camp oven cooking and billy tea demonstrationsJudy Gray, from Tableland, and Michelle Baker, were working the spinning wheelsThe “Our History” shed, a popular part of the Dairy Museum precinct, has recently been refurbished and filled with new displaysJan Irvine and Margaret Allcock, from Murgon Show Society, were serving up the burgersVolunteers Betty Taylor and Marlene Emmerton were helping visitors in the old Bank of NSW buildingJack Nowland and Kenzie, 6, from Moondooner, with their cart horse “Wally”Keith Cross, from Biggenden, with his clydesdale, “Danny” … the pair were taking a break after a ploughing demostrationThe South Burnett Antique Motor Club brought along a display of vehicles …… including this 1926 International Harvester S-24 Speed Truck
