What are the opening hours?

Monday 9:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 9:30am - 4:30pm Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm Sunday 9:30am - 4:30pm

Pioneer Settlement

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Swan Hill, VIC
Pioneer Settlement

Pioneer Settlement is a Heritage Tourist Attraction in the Mallee city of Swan Hill.
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Situated on the picturesque banks of the Marraboor River, you can embrace the past with the feeling that you have stepped back in time at the Pioneer Settlement. From our 1850s Pioneer Cottages to Towaninnie Homestead to our Mallee Township you can wander at leisure in a bygone world experiencing real Australian history. Whether riding in our recently restored vintage Dodge or in our horse drawn c

arriage; or having a break in our Tea Rooms there's so much to see and do that you will be pleased that the entry ticket includes a complimentary second day.

13/06/2026

“We had a great time coming here! I definitely recommend booking the [Pyap] ride with your ticket and trying the vintage car and horse-drawn coach rides. The dedication and hospitality from staff made this visit one to never forget. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐” – Izzy.

Whether it’s a friendly chat, sharing a story from years gone by, or helping visitors experience a piece of living history, the warmth and passion our volunteers bring is what makes the Pioneer Settlement special – we are truly grateful for the care, dedication, and passion of those who help preserve and share our pioneering past.

11/06/2026

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing and a must do if you visit Swan Hill.”
– A Hofmann, Google review.

Our two Murray River laser light spectaculars, ‘Parnbandilla’, are after dark experiences that bring the history of the Murray River and the Mallee region to life with an amazing light show projected on a screen made of water, with lasers, fire, water, and booming sound!

Tonight at 6.30pm, it’s ‘Heartbeat of the Murray’.

Bookings are essential. Call 1800 981 911 during office hours (Monday to Friday) to book your tickets. To learn more, visit: www.pioneersettlement.com.au/by-night/

09/06/2026

Fine fashion afield in this photo from on Instagram.

Out and about in our authentic 19th-century costumes, paired brilliantly with our 1920s Dodge, they’ve truly embraced the ‘vintage vibes’ with the help of our Photo Parlour. You too can find your sepia-style and strike a pose – it’s a great memento of your visit, and be sure to share it with our socials.

From just $10 per person or $25 per family, every dollar is proudly donated to the Friends of the Pioneer Settlement – helping preserve our history for future generations.

📷 : chunky creative ( on Instagram).

06/06/2026

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ So good we ate here [Paragon Cafe] three times in two days. Each time, constantly good service, quick, nice location and reasonable price. Tried the dahl and lamb, both delicious. Also did the breakfast and can recommend the breaky burger, delish. Coffee also great.” – Ben, Google review.

Open 9am to 2.30pm Monday and Tuesday, and 7am to 2.30pm Wednesday through Sunday – for Pioneer Settlement patrons, the local community, and visitors to the region.

📷 : Paragon Cafe – spicy Afghan kofta (meatballs).

04/06/2026

“Fantastic experience with the 4-in-1 ticket. And you need two days in town to do it. We spent a Tuesday doing the whole village, car ride and horse and carriage ride, then at 2.30pm the [Pyap]... We saw one of the laser shows on the Tuesday night and the other one on Wednesday night. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐” – Karen S

It’s the King’s Birthday and a long weekend ahead – why not step back in time, by day, by river, and by night! A 4-in-1 or 3-in-1 Multi-Pass is an amazing way to experience the Pioneer Settlement, and it’s a great reason to extend your stay in the Swan Hill region.

Learn more at: www.pioneersettlement.com.au/tickets/

02/06/2026

Celebrate ‘The Queen of the Murray’ – the Pioneer Settlement cordially invites you to the PS Gem’s 150th Birthday Celebration, Wednesday, June 17th, from 1pm to 3pm (afternoon tea provided).

Free admission, please RSVP to secure your ticket:
bit.ly/psgem150th

01/06/2026

🚧 The PS Gem is temporarily closed to the public until mid-June, while major restoration works are underway for her 150th birthday.

Many captained the PS Gem during a lifetime on the Murray River, including Captain Hugh King (1840–1921), the legendary ‘The Grand Old Man of the River’, and an early pioneer of Murray River trade.

Born in Glasgow, Hugh arrived in Australia in 1859 and initially went to the diggings in Bendigo. At the age of 25 in 1865, he built his first little steamer ‘Moira’. He then owned the ‘Cheviot’, built the ‘Princess Royal’ with the former’s engines, then the ‘Jupiter’ and the ‘Jane Eliza”, before taking ownership of the ‘Gem’ in April 1879 and overseeing her transformation to the “Queen of the Murray”.

Main image, archival photography of the PS Gem (2015), inset image courtesy the State Library of South Australia [PRG 1258/4/14].

29/05/2026

Prefer real horsepower? Our horse and carriage ride, drawn by one of our two lovely Clydesdales, Ben or Rocky, is a great way to see our Mallee township and meet one of our friendly volunteer drivers.

Rides are free with a By Day (General Admission) ticket, or upgrade to a By Day + Day River ticket and also enjoy a leisurely one-hour Pyap cruise at 2.30pm, or 10.30am on weekends. For more ticket options, visit our website: www.pioneersettlement.com.au/tickets

27/05/2026

Are you a ‘ferroequinologist’? Latin for “iron horse studier”, it’s another name for a train enthusiast, and our commanding D3 class locomotive is a must-see for rail fans, adults and children alike.

Manufactured in Castlemaine by Thompson’s Foundry for Victorian Railways in 1913, it was purchased in 1964 with a Canadian Red livery, and arrived in 1968 under its own steam, using a temporary spur line to reach its original destination within the Swan Hill Folk Museum (now the Pioneer Settlement).

25/05/2026

Located outside The Echo Print Shop is a simple horse trough with the inscription ‘Donated by Annis & George Bills, Australia’ – it’s one of two at the Pioneer Settlement, with the other found in front of the Lower Murray Inn, and a third closer to the Swan Hill CBD. These are just three of more than 700 found throughout Australia.

George Bills passed away in 1927, his wife having died before him and having no children. He left approximately £80,000 to “...construct and erect and pay for horse troughs wherever they may be of the opinion that such horse troughs are desirable...” and his estate began distributing the horse troughs in the 1930s.

Demand and production for Bills horse troughs ended with the rise of motorised transport by the 1940s, and today they remain a lasting legacy of the days of horse-drawn vehicles.

Address

125 Monash Drive
Swan Hill, VIC
3585

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Sunday	9:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+61350362410

Website

http://www.pioneersettlement.com.au/contact/

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