LIFE OF A PIONEER excursion is entertaining, educational and fun. Students live the real outback and absorb memorable insights about pioneers and station life today.
The iconic outback is part of our cultural past and present that every Australian child should experience at least once. Do something different and open their eyes and imaginations to the stories that dwell far from the city.
Your students will discover another world in the Cobb & Co courtyard. Our horse trainer and stagecoach driver will tell stories of pioneer history, Cobb & Co and his own outback life that will engage all ages. A demonstration of outback items and memorabilia will help bring the past to life.
The Cobb & Co Stagecoach ride is a highlight for everyone. The story of pioneer travel becomes real as students take their seats and imagine what it would be like to cover long journeys by stagecoach at a time before cars and planes. They learn how Cobb & Co opened up the outback and who typically travelled. They can’t stop talking about their ride on the old mail route!
After an educational journey on the Cobb & Co Stagecoach, students will discover shopping as it used to be at The Station Store, our emporium that is set up like a traditional store. Long before online shopping, pioneers on remote stations looked forward to an exciting day out visiting a store that sold everything they needed.
Our storekeeper will demonstrate outback items and tell the stories of their origins. From wool garments to stockman’s supplies, from opals to outback crafts, there’s plenty to discover. There are also outback souvenirs to buy for those who want a gift to take home!
Later in the day, students will board their coach for a trip out to the Kinnons’ Nogo Station. They’ll see more of the town and the outback bush landscape along the way. Groups will visit the historic shearing sheds to discover more about the merino wool story and station life. They’ll get up close to the merinos waiting for shearing and learn fascinating facts about the shearers’ lives and work through the decades.
Out in the open expanses of the station, as the sun sets, they’ll see the ruins of the stockyards used by cattle duffer, Harry Redford (aka Captain Starlight). His amazing story sparks the imagination of young and old.
After dark, we have a campfire dinner with a delicious stockman’s stew and dessert. Students hear more yarns around the fire. They have time to gaze at the outback sky and learn how the stars inspired ancient stories and allowed people to navigate vast distances.
