Wimmera-Mallee Pioneer Museum

10/08/2026

Walk, Chat & Connect

What a wonderful day of walking, conversation, fellowship and connection in Jeparit.

From the heritage walk at the Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Museum to the Four Mile Beach walk and run, people came together despite the weather to enjoy the outdoors, meet new people and support an important message — mental health matters, and staying connected matters too.

We were delighted to welcome the Doncaster Hash House Harriers, with members travelling from across Victoria to support our small rural community. Their spirit of fitness, friendship and fellowship reflected the heart of the day.

The afternoon continued at the Jeparit Memorial Hall with a screening of Just a Farmer, followed by heartfelt talks from Justin Knorpp, mental health advocate from Warracknabeal, and Adrian Ward, Ringmaster of the Hash House Harriers. A three-course meal then brought everyone together for more conversation, laughter and fellowship.

A special thank you to Look Over the Farm Gate for supporting the Just a Farmer screening and helping bring this important conversation about rural mental health to Jeparit.

We are grateful to our valuable people — our volunteers, community groups, committees, local organisations and everyone who gave their time, support and energy to make the day possible.

Before heading home, our visitors enjoyed morning tea and a walk through the beautiful Peter and Leonne Gebert gardens, another wonderful opportunity to share our town and its people.

This was more than a walk. It was about people coming together, supporting one another and showing what can be achieved when a community works together.

Different people, different groups, one community.

Walk. Chat. Connect. Because connection matters.

06/08/2026

Over the past seven months or so much has been done to enhance the visitor experience at the Detpa School Museum - now registered with the Australian National Museum of Education - through developing signage reflecting the rich history of the School between 1926 and 1954 and ultimately its arrival at the Pioneer Museum in 1969. The stories also reflect education in Victoria more broadly in the early twentieth century.

Three trips to the Public Record Office of Victoria resulted in acquiring an enormous number of documents and correspondence from 1924 onwards and we now have some of these in our own archives. We have added photo displays of pupils and teachers, courtesy of Margaret Preston, Barb Pipkorn and John Pumpa. We have signage relating to the collections of School Papers, School Readers, Arithmetic textbooks, the Detpa School Fife Band, Inspectors' Reports, a list of all 119 pupils as well as of all the teachers until 1953, pupil recollections, a collection of district school histories, a story about the significant World War 1 Honour Boards and even some bags of marbles and Knuckles (remember?) along with slates kindly donated by Sovereign Hill Schools via a keen supporter, Marion Littlejohn. We also have information on display relating to the 1998 Allanby and Detpa Schools Reunion. And there is even more!

The Detpa School Museum is one of only four ANME-registerd School Museums in Victoria and 37 nationally, something for us in Jeparit and district to be very proud of. Its new status gives it a national and potentially international profile.

The work on enhancing the collection and displays will continue over the coming year or so but now would be a great time for people to return to the Museum to view our progress and to view the collection afresh. Finally, the postponed Centenary event will still take place when this can be arranged.

03/08/2026

Save the Date – Saturday, 8 August!

The community spirit continues in Jeparit.

We're pleased to present another opportunity to come together for an afternoon of connection, conversation and community.

With the Harriers visiting Jeparit for the weekend, we're taking the opportunity to welcome both visitors and locals to enjoy a choice of guided community walks before coming together for the inspiring Australian film Just a Farmer, followed by a relaxed community conversation and a shared country meal.

🚶 Guided Community Walks – from 3:00 pm (No booking required – simply come along!)
🎥 Just a Farmer – from 5:00 pm
💬 Community conversation
🍽️ Shared country meal

The flyer has all the event details, including walk options, locations, times and booking information.

There's no need to book for the guided walks. However, bookings are essential for the film and shared country meal so we can plan catering and ensure everyone is comfortably seated.

Reserve your place by scanning the QR code on the flyer, calling 0478 835 487, or emailing [email protected].

Please note: Just a Farmer is recommended for audiences 15 years and over due to the themes explored.

We look forward to welcoming everyone for an afternoon that celebrates community, meaningful conversations and the opportunity to connect with others.

This event has been made possible through the collaboration and support of local volunteers, community groups, organisations and our visiting Harriers. Thank you to everyone helping make this day a success.

Please tag and share with your family and friends!

02/08/2026

Our First Market at the Museum – Thank You!

What a wonderful day! we welcomed more than 150 visitors from Jeparit and far beyond.

With beautiful weather, a relaxed country atmosphere and the wonderful music of Maurice Conway, it was the perfect setting to explore the stalls, meet local makers and enjoy everything our Museum and the beautiful town of Jeparit has to offer.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came along to support our Museum, our stallholders and our community.

A special thank you to our stallholders:

• Morgan Ninnes – Blossom Blend
• Laura Godena – Wimmera Wheat Packs & Candles
• Bec Dart – Ignite Wellness
• Mary Graetz – Great Upcycles by Mary
• L*z Graetz – Second-hand Books
• Kathy Cross – Zoomi Wear
• Katie D***s – Metal Art
• Gabby Williams – The Curious Gallery
• Theo Agathos – Theo Stuff
• Sandy Burton – Paparazzi Jewellery
• Gill Elliot – Thermomix
• Emily Farrugia
• Man Cave Signs

Please continue to support these wonderful small businesses whenever you can. Every purchase helps local makers, local families and regional communities continue doing what they love.

Our sincere thanks also go to our incredible volunteers, committee members and local community members who rolled up their sleeves and went above and beyond before, during and after the market. Your generosity, hard work and community spirit are the backbone of our Museum.

A special thank you to our young volunteers Lydia and Elora, to Maurice Conway for the wonderful music, Yolande for donating books for our Book stall, and to Mary for bringing beautiful yellow flowers from her garden to share with our visitors. We also thank Hindmarsh Shire Council, our local school, community groups,, donors and everyone who contributed in any way to the success of the day.

This market was about more than shopping. It was about bringing people together, supporting local businesses, celebrating our friendly country community and showcasing everything our beautiful Museum and the town of Jeparit has to offer.

Finally, thank you to everyone who supported us. If we have accidentally missed mentioning anyone, please accept our sincere apologies and know that your contribution was truly appreciated.

We look forward to welcoming you back to our next Market at the Museum! 🌾💚

31/07/2026

Market time. The sun is out !!!!

29/07/2026

Only a few more days to go! 🌟

Make a day of it this Saturday at the Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Museum Winter Market in beautiful Jeparit!

🛍️ Browse a fantastic range of stalls featuring handmade treasures, local art, plants, books, upcycled fashion, bric-a-brac, unique gifts, dog accessories, delicious food and so much more. There's something for everyone!

🍰 Treat yourself to delicious Devonshire Teas with fresh-baked scones, homemade cakes and tasty savouries.

🎶 Enjoy live music by Maurice Conway.
🎨 Let the kids have fun in the Kids' Corner.
🎁 Be in the draw to win one of our great door prizes!

After the market, take some time to explore Jeparit—visit the museum, admire the nearby silo art, wander through our welcoming town and make a day of discovering what our community has to offer.

Bring your family, invite your friends, support our wonderful stallholders, and enjoy a fun day filled with shopping, music, great food and community spirit.

📍 Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Museum, Jeparit
📅 Saturday 1 August
🕘 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

We'll see you on Saturday!

25/07/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered at our Museum Sausage Sizzle fundraiser. What a fantastic day—we sold out!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came along to support us, especially our wonderful customers. Your support means so much to our museum and our community.

Thank you to our committee members, volunteers, and everyone who helped make the day such a success. Your time, enthusiasm, and teamwork created a day full of laughter, friendship, and wonderful community spirit.

We are truly grateful for your dedication and ongoing support of the Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Museum.

We can't wait to welcome you back for our next event!

📅 Saturday, 1st August – Market at the Museum

Join us for another fantastic community day featuring:
• Great local market stalls
• Live music by Maurice Conway
• Delicious Devonshire Tea, BBQ and other tasty treats
• Kids' Corner with fun activities
• Exciting door prizes to be won
• A warm, friendly atmosphere for the whole family

Bring your family, invite your friends, support local businesses, and enjoy a relaxed day filled with great food, entertainment, shopping, and community spirit.

16/07/2026

🗓️ Mark the calendar – Saturday, 1st August!

We'd love to welcome you to our**Market at the Museum**!

If you're visiting our region, make a day of it and take the opportunity to explore all that Jeparit and the beautiful Wimmera Mallee have to offer.

For our locals, come along, catch up with family and friends, support our talented stallholders, makers, artists and food vendors, and while you're here, be sure to enter our **fantastic door prize**!

**Share this post, tag your loved ones, and we'll see you at the market!**

10/07/2026

|| WIMMERA MALLEE PIONEER MUSEUM COMMUNITY ASSET COMMITTEE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - 21 JULY 2026 ||

The Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Museum Community Asset Committee will be holding their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 21 July 2026 at Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Museum, Dimboola-Rainbow Road, Jeparit commencing at 7:00pm.

The purpose of the meeting is to elect office-bearers, and present the annual report and annual financial report from the Chairperson and Treasurer.

This meeting is open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend. RSVP and apologies to [email protected].

07/07/2026

🌿 A Warm Welcome to Our Stallholders🌿

A heartfelt **thank you** to everyone who has already booked a stall for our very first **Winter Market in Jeparit**. Your support means so much, and we're excited to have you as part of this special community event.

We're looking forward to welcoming even more stallholders over the coming weeks. If you've been thinking about joining us, now is a great time to book. Sites are filling steadily, and we don't want you to miss out!!!

Thank you for supporting local and helping make our very first Winter Market a success.
We can't wait to welcome you on Saturday 1 August!

👇 **Book your stall here:**
https://www.trybooking.com/DNQTT

DETAILS 📅 First Saturday of August ⏰ 9:00am – 2:00pm (Stallholders may trade for the full day or part of the day) 💲 Stall fee: $15 | ⚡ Power...