A photoshoot featuring Serviceton Railway Station – one of the venues of this year’s Wimmera Steampunk Festival – will form a key part of the event.

This year’s festival will be the first time three shires are involved, with events spread across Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh and West Wimmera municipalities.

It all kicks off on opening night at The General Store, Warracknabeal, on April 5, with a series of exhibitions, displays, performances and musical acts over an eight-day period.

The costumed street party in Dimboola on April 12 will be a highlight, with the festival closing on April 13 as Serviceton Railway Station hosts a high tea.

The photoshoot on Sunday will be used to promote the high tea, organised by West Wimmera Shire Council and Seymour Heritage Railway Centre.

A heritage train will leave from Horsham, picking up passengers from Dimboola, Nhill and Kaniva, to enjoy the high tea before returning home.

There will be 250 tickets available for the high tea.

West Wimmera Shire Council  community development and tourism project officer Michell Ellis said tickets were available from the Seymour Heritage Railway Centre website.

“It’s really coming together and this photoshoot is beyond expectations. It’s just amazing,” she said.

Festival organiser Chan Uoy said the historic Serviceton Railway Station provided the perfect backdrop for the photoshoot.

“To  have 11 models in costume, and when you see the final picture, it’ll be awesome,” he said.

Mr Uoy said this year’s festival, with the theme of the 19th century-inspired ‘Carnival of Peculiarities’, was entirely organised by volunteers from across the region, led by Dimboola Progress Association.

“What you see is all volunteers coming together because they believe in the vision and they believe in the direction of the event,” he said.

“This is the first time that three shires are involved so it’s really becoming a true Wimmera Steampunk Festival.”

A full program of events and early bird tickets are available at www.wimmerasteampunkfestival.com.au. 

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