it was opened in 1977 by then queensland premier joh bjelke petersen and was owned by harry and ellen skenner, who closed it in april 2003 due to escalating public liability costs. it was reopened in 2009 by just jeans retail chain store founder craig kimberly and his wife connie. the village is located on a 16-acre site and comprises over 50 historically restored period buildings dating back to the 1860s, set out like a tin mining town. it is the largest private collection of its type in queensland.