Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement Museum

Australia's first outdoor museum, Pioneer Settlement Museum portrays life in the Murray-Mallee in the era 1830-1930, including pre-contact between aborigines and settlers. There is an excellent schools education program, riverboat cruises on the Murray River, Australia's first sound and light show, regular street theatre and staffed shops. The museum covers 7 acres, with areas showing town and rural life of the settlement period, and aboriginal display areas. Included in the entry price are rides in horsedrawn vehicles and vintage cars. A working blacksmith fashions artifacts, the printer makes posters, visitors can photograph themselves in period costume. A steam-driven factory operates regularly. Australia's only stereoscopic theatre displays 25 three-dimensional photographs at one time.

The museum is situated beside the Murray in north-western Victoria, and was started with the arrival of the paddlesteamer Gem, the biggest riverboat of the 19th century, in 1963. This event caused a huge revival of interest in history, with many similar museums being set up around Australia.

There is a wide array of activities included in the entry price.

• a working blacksmith,
• fashion,
• rides in horsedrawn vehicles and vintage cars,
• artefacts,
• the printer makes posters,
• visitors can photograph themselves in period costume. * a steam-driven factory operates regularly.
• Australia's only stereoscopic theatre displays 25 three-dimensional photographs at one time.