Black coal was discovered in the area in 1872, and the region subsequently developed an important coal mining industry. The coal mined was of the highest quality and provide Melbourne and in particular fuelled the railways with coal for the steam locomotives. The mine at Coal Creek operated from the 1880s to the 1958, when operations ceased.
Coal Creek Heritage Village is 15-hectare open-air museum, and was established at the site in 1974 by enterprising local community groups. Now called Coal Creek Community Park and Museum, the park became an accredited museum in 2014. It is home to over 60 historical buildings and is used by many local groups and organisations.
Coal Creek was a Community, Local and State government funded project designed preserve the cultural history of the area. The first building relocated on site was the Korumburra Courthouse, followed by Kowera Church, Jeetho School House and the Mine Manager’s Cottage.
As Gippsland’s largest open air heritage village, the vast collection of original buildings and objects tell the story of the coal mining, agricultural, transportation and social history of the southern Gippsland region.