21 That’s Entertainment

I’m joining Becky in her October Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules of the challenge are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word Past. Look for #PastSquares. This month we’re travelling back in time in the western Queensland town of Miles and surrounds. We’ll explore the local area and join in the festivities at the Miles Back to the Bush Festival.

Miles Historical Village

This beautiful organ must surely have been considered a luxury item in a 19th century western Queensland home. Its entertainment value, in such a remote region, would have been priceless.

20 In The Kitchen

I’m joining Becky in her October Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules of the challenge are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word Past. Look for #PastSquares. This month we’re travelling back in time in the western Queensland town of Miles and surrounds. We’ll explore the local area and join in the festivities at the Miles Back to the Bush Festival.

Miles Historical Village

In a time when buildings were made of slabs of timber hewn from felled trees, the kitchen was always a separate structure. If a fire broke out, the kitchen might be lost but the rest of the house could be saved.

With a corrugated iron roof, dirt floor and unsealed walls, the kitchen would have been an uncomfortable place to work – boiling hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter.

When people reminisce about the “good old days” they probably don’t think about using a kitchen like this.

19 In The Dairy

I’m joining Becky in her October Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules of the challenge are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word Past. Look for #PastSquares. This month we’re travelling back in time in the western Queensland town of Miles and surrounds. We’ll explore the local area and join in the festivities at the Miles Back to the Bush Festival.

Miles Historical Village

I’ve been told my great grandfather’s milk cans, with his name printed on the labels, are included in this collection of old dairy equipment. Which cans are his? I’ll never know, because the gate on the doorway of the dairy was locked. It is nice to know a part of my ancestry is preserved here.

18 School Rules

I’m joining Becky in her October Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules of the challenge are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word Past. Look for #PastSquares. This month we’re travelling back in time in the western Queensland town of Miles and surrounds. We’ll explore the local area and join in the festivities at the Miles Back to the Bush Festival.

Miles Historical Village

The one room school building at the historical village was transported 20 kilometres from the tiny settlement of Drillham.

In 1886, it wasn’t just unruly students who were expected to obey the rules at school.

17 Longevity

I’m joining Becky in her October Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules of the challenge are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word Past. Look for #PastSquares. This month we’re travelling back in time in the western Queensland town of Miles and surrounds. We’ll explore the local area and join in the festivities at the Miles Back to the Bush Festival.

Miles Historical Village

The General Store, like all the other buildings along the main street of the village, dates from the 19th century.

The containers on the shelves inside are also vintage. They might be old fashioned and their contents long gone, but many of these brands can still be found on our modern supermarket shelves.

How many do you recognise?

16 On Main Street

I’m joining Becky in her October Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules of the challenge are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word Past. Look for #PastSquares. This month we’re travelling back in time in the western Queensland town of Miles and surrounds. We’ll explore the local area and join in the festivities at the Miles Back to the Bush Festival.

Miles Historical Village

The Main Event at the Back to the Bush Festival 2021 is underway on the arena behind the village. Before we join in, let’s take some time to explore the Historical Village.

The buildings on the main street date from the late 19th century. All are original to the Miles area and were relocated to the museum where they have been beautifully restored.

With the grocer, bakery and chemist all in a row, the shopping might be done in a flash…

leaving time for a visit to the local hotel!

15 On Parade

I’m joining Becky in her October Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules of the challenge are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word Past. Look for #PastSquares. This month we’re travelling back in time in the western Queensland town of Miles and surrounds. We’ll explore the local area and join in the festivities at the Miles Back to the Bush Festival.

Back to the Bush Street Parade

On Saturday the festival really gets going, with the Main Event taking over the arena at the Miles Historical Village. The day starts with a parade along the main street and the whole town is involved.

Riders from the Miles Horse and Pony Club lead the way.

Children from the local day care centre and volunteers from the SES wave enthusiastically.

Large decorated floats are followed by a long line of vintage vehicles.

A popular competition at the festival is the tractor pull – the entrants are already revving their engines.

The parade finishes with a spectacular display of whip cracking. We’re almost as impressed by his ability to stay upright on the back of the truck as we are by his whip cracking skills.

14 Old Timers

I’m joining Becky in her October Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules of the challenge are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word Past. Look for #PastSquares. This month we’re travelling back in time in the western Queensland town of Miles and surrounds. We’ll explore the local area and join in the festivities at the Miles Back to the Bush Festival.

Miles, Queensland

Local residents Ted and Adele Andrews have lived in Miles for most of their married life. In their 19th century costumes, they might have been around for much longer.

13 Collections ~ Part Nine

I’m joining Becky in her October Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules of the challenge are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word Past. Look for #PastSquares. This month we’re travelling back in time in the western Queensland town of Miles and surrounds. We’ll explore the local area and join in the festivities at the Miles Back to the Bush Festival.

Miles Back to the Bush Festival

What do you call a collection of tea cosies?

Dozens of tea cosies appeared in Miles during the Back to the Bush Festival. Made by knitters, crocheters and textiles artists from all around Australia, the tea cosies were sold with the proceeds going to charity.

Some colourful vintage examples accompanied Jean’s doll collection.

An elaborate bespoke tea cosy decorated with embroidered gum leaves was displayed in the Art Gallery at Dogwood Crossing@Miles.

And the Festival Pop-Up Store overflowed with fabulous hand-crafted cosies of all shapes and sizes.

So what do you call a collection of tea cosies?

There seems to be no collective noun for tea cosies so let’s nominate our own. I’m voting for “A Snug of Tea Cosies”. What’s your choice?

12 Collections ~ Part Eight

I’m joining Becky in her October Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules of the challenge are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word Past. Look for #PastSquares. This month we’re travelling back in time in the western Queensland town of Miles and surrounds. We’ll explore the local area and join in the festivities at the Miles Back to the Bush Festival.

The self-guided Collections Tour, where local residents open their homes to share their collections, is a popular event at the festival. Some collections are huge and multi-faceted while others are small and specific. Some are vintage objects, some are a little eccentric and some are just for fun. Let’s move on to Delena and Oscar’s place.

~

While the display of beautiful artworks painted by Delena is inspirational, and a cacti collection in the garden is a fun addition to the tour, it’s Oscar’s orange motorbike which takes pride of place.

His 2012 Ural 750cc complete with side car certainly stands out from the other bikes in Oscar’s collection.

The next day we see the bike in action in the Festival’s Street Parade. With its vivid orange paintwork, it’s a beauty!

Also joining Jude for her Life in Colour Photo Challenge, featuring orange