Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village | Review & Guide

Ready to visit South Australia’s ‘most haunted town’? Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village is a truly unique roadside attraction just an hour away from Adelaide. Here’s what we thought, plus all the info on how to visit for yourself!

Just an hour’s drive from Adelaide, Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village is home to well over 100 buildings, representing Australian social and living history from between 1860-1960. During the day, visitors can take a self-guided tour of the 100+ buildings, exploring decades of Australian history. By night, the darkness brings ghost tours and paranormal investigations.

I’d actually bookmarked Old Tailem Town on Google Maps way before we even planned our Adelaide to Melbourne road trip. So when I found out we’d be passing right by after spending a day in Hahndorf, it was an essential on the itinerary. I was surprised by the size of the site and how much there was to see, and ended up spending a fair bit longer there than we expected!

We took the self-guided day tour – and after visiting, I’d be absolutely inclined to go back by night too! Find out what to expect from your visit, plus some interesting bits of info about this fascinating historical roadside attraction…

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A brief history…

In the 1980s, after his grandparents passed, Peter Squires purchased his grandparents’ property along the Princes Highway through South Australia. His passion for history and inspiration from visits to other pioneer villages inspired him to begin his own open air museum at Tailem Bend.

He began purchasing historic buildings and transporting them to Old Tailem Town, with an aim of recreating an old-time Australian town. The village opened to the public in 1987, but the work didn’t stop there – the attraction has been growing ever since, with new buildings being added throughout the years.

Old Tailem Town is now managed by Danny Squires, Peter’s son, and his wife Tina, who are committed to keeping the village’s spirit alive.

Our visit to Old Tailem Town

When we arrived, the old-fashioned automobiles lined up outside assured us we were in the right place. That and the giant sign that says ‘Tailem’, of course…

We were greeted by a friendly volunteer who welcomed us in, and immediately informed us they were happy to charge $25 if we paid in cash, rather than the listed $28 EFTPOS price. Ever the money-saver, I ran back around to the van to grab some cash, which was exchanged for a comprehensive map and explanation of the attraction.

Stepping through the back door felt like stepping back in time to a Wild West movie, as we were greeted by a street lined with historic facades. To our left, an impressive church with a graveyard caught my eyes immediately.

When we arrived, we were also the only visitors, which just added to the feeling we were in a movie or video game. My boyfriend described it as ‘like a real life Fallout theme park’; and at points I could imagine that I’d just arrived on horseback in Red Dead Redemption. It makes absolute sense that the site has been used as a movie set; for productions including Twin Rivers and The Sundowner.

Original historical buildings

We began at building number one on the map – a former doctor’s office, which set the tone for the ‘slightly creepy’ tone for rest of the day. Mostly from the surgeon mannequin that eerily greeted us as we peered around the door…

Some buildings, like the school, have been restored to their original purpose; while others are repurposed, such as the bike shop in a former lamp shed. The majority of the restored historical buildings have accessible interiors – although most of the rooms are blocked off with a small fence. Inside, the buildings have been meticulously decorated with items representative of the historical period.

This was particularly evident in the village shop building, where the shelves are packed to busting with retro packaging from brands including Arnott’s, Fry’s and Weet-Bix.

In a fewi buildings, there are no barriers so you can explore fully – such as the historic pub where you can walk up to the bar. Unfortunately, the beer taps were most definitely turned off!

Reproduction buildings

Alongside the restored historical buildings, the town has a section dedicated to reproductions of settler homesteads. Some have been built on site over the years by students and volunteers, and others transported from other pioneer villages that have closed.

As with the buildings moved to site, these re-created buildings have had an incredible level of attention to detail. Walking through an 1800s fisherman’s cottage, we were able to picture where family members slept, ate and undertook daily tasks.

There’s even a replica of the first cottage built in Hahndorf, a nearby settler town and Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement.

At the back of the site, barns are filled with old farming equipment, machinery, vehicle parts and much more. We walked amongst old train carriages and across railway tracks to make our way back to the start. The back section feels a little more unfinished – more ‘junkyard’ than open air museum after a while.

Regardless, the completed buildings are well worth the entrance fee. There’s so much to see around the site, and we spent around two hours exploring Old Tailem Town. If you’re passing by, or looking for an easy historical day trip from Adelaide, it’s an amazing look into Australian social history.

Or, if you’re brave, read on to find out what a night-time visit uncovers…

Ghost Tours at Old Tailem Town

As well as being a fascinating spot for history buffs, Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village is also a magnet for paranormal enthusiasts. Although I can’t report any spooky sightings from our visit other than some creaky doors in the wind, I can absolutely understand why!

Rumours of historical hauntings abound, and if the stories are to be believed, the paranormal energy attached to the buildings wasn’t left behind during their move. In particular, the old Wolseley Church is said to be one of the most haunted buildings on site. I posted on TikTok about the site, and multiple commenters have reported feeling a presence, hearing voices or even being pushed by a ghostly hand here…

If you’re feeling really brave, you can book an after-dark ghost tour or ghost hunt with Adelaide Haunted Horizons. I’d love to go back and do this, as it comes highly recommended by commenters on my TikTok!

Old Tailem Town FAQ