THE WAY WE WERE
THEN AND NOW: Volunteers at the Highfields Pioneer Village are loving their newest attraction of a Model T Ford Bus who gives rides around the Village grounds. “Henry” as he is affectionately known at the Highfields Pioneer Village was manufactured in 1924 and originally used as a school bus for the Kilcoy State School from 1924 to 1940.
The bus was decommissioned and purchased by a museum operating on the coast where it was on display until the 1960s when Henry became part of the private collection of Bob Bone and was used at many historic events throughout rural Queensland as a rides vehicle. In 1996 Henry was placed on loan at the Longreach Qantas Museum for display purposes. In 2016 Volunteer Manager Ray Ashford OAM purchased the vehicle and began its restoration with fellow volunteers.
“Henry was purchased as a ‘rainy day’ project, we didn’t get much rain and we took some time to source the parts, replace some of the woodwork, to get the upholstery done and to find the right people to do the signwriting,” Ray said.
“Young Luke Wilkinson from Signs and Lines was the man for the signwriting, he has done a stellar job”.
Henry the Model T Ford bus can carry 12 people at once and is available for rides for birthday parties, school groups, and weddings and also on the last Sunday of each month where Henry the Bus teams up with Myrtle May the Miniature Steam Train to entertain the kids.
Nothing makes Ray happier than driving visitors around in the Model T Bus. “You don’t know your alive until you’ve ridden in a Model T Ford,” he said.
“It is a great opportunity for kids to experience what it was like travelling to school in the old days…no aircon just the cool breeze, the flies and the sound of a Model T engine putting away, this is livin’ the dream.”
The bus has had a positive flow on effect for the Village as well. “The bus has given visitors a sneak preview of what the Village has to offer, many people have gone on to purchase tickets to look through the Pioneer Village after seeing how many historic buildings are on grounds,” Ray said.
Tickets to ride Henry are $3 per child and $5 per adult, children under 5years are required to have an adult accompany them. Please phone the Village to make a booking. Volunteers are seeking original photos of the bus from it’s time in Kilcoy and would be interested in hearing from past students from the Kilcoy State School. The Village is also open everyday except Christmas Day from 10am to 4pm. For more information please phone the Village office on 4696 6309.