Loxton Village

Along the Murray River about three hours drive north-east of Adelaide is Loxton. The town was declared in 1907 and became an agricultural centre that boomed with soldier-settler blocks. It was a regular stop for paddlesteamers to load up with wheat. You can still find an original pug and pine huts near the riverbank. It now belongs to the National Trust and is part of an extraordinary community-based project called "The Loxton Historic Village". That"s the caretaker Jeff Schiller in the restored fire engine. The original bank of Adelaide building has come from Geranium, the general store from Alawoona and Doeckes (day keys) Cottage from an early residential area of Loxton. But this is no ghost town. The real story is the volunteers, about 50 of them who breath life into the historical village. Ovens bake here, sheep are shorn, stationary engines work. Allan Hicks worked for ETSA for 34 years but in retirement has returned to something he learnt as a teenager - blacksmithing. He is also president of the Loxton Historic Volunteers. All up the volunteers spend about 150 days a year keeping yesterday alive. "There aren"t any professionals, but people just do what they can and where they fit in." The Institute Halls smell of linseed oil used to polish the floor, they used to sing songs of empire in here and the faces of Loxton"s history, look down on the preservation. What they see is a council-owned, community-backed, non- profit living museum that features 30 fully furnished buildings. As Allan says "so much history needs looking after" - it is in good hands at Loxton. The Loxton Historic Village is open seven days a week from 10am. It costs $5 for adults, $4 for pensioners and $2.50 for children - a family ticket is available and discounts for coach groups. An education officer is available for school tours and several times every year there are village days where all volunteers are dressed in period costumes. For enquiries call (08) 8584 7194 or for more information email info@postcards.sa.com.au