Shantytown Heritage Park

About

Shantytown began in 1968 as a passion project from the local enthusiasts who formed the West Coast Historical and Mechanical Society. Since then, 30 historic buildings have been painstakingly relocated to the site, and their rooms filled with hundreds of artefacts from when the area was abuzz with gold prospectors in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. An enthralling holographic movie tells the story of pioneer life before you set out to experience staples of a pioneer town, such as a bank, hotel, butcher, shoe shop, barber, carpenter, and a blacksmith. Along with being fully stocked with traditional goods of the time, some of the shops sell old-timey goods like handmade lollies. There are also plenty of hands-on activities too - take a ride on the old steam train, or try your hand panning for gold.