ESTABLISHED as the first non-penal settlement in Queensland, it is obvious that Warwick was meant to last.

However, despite great industrial and political feats that are accomplished over a lifetime it is often the little things that tend to remain.

"There was nothing when people first came here, everything you would need you had to bring with you," Warwick Historical Society president Janice Flood said.

Mrs Flood described a scythe brought to the district by a French family during the first settlement as one of her favourite items on display.

"You can see the family's mindset, but we can hardly imagine packing a scythe with us today," she laughed.

Peg dolls and spinning tops are also among the most popular items on sale at the cottage.

Visitors often reminisce about their childhood, triggered by the toys on display.

"We had a woman who grew up during the Second World War, who came in and bought a few pegs dolls for her and her youngest sister, but only one for her eldest," Mrs Flood said.

"She told us her eldest sister had 10 peg dolls, but wouldn't share them with anyone else," she laughed.

"This woman was in her 70s; we have stories like this all the time".

The society's collection of quirky and everyday items continues with 1049 items catalogued.

More than 800 embroidered doilies and 500 items of lace are also part of the collection.

Some items even travelling from as far as Portugal.

"You never know what you will find," Mrs Flood said.

Moments in time

• 1847 Spicers Gap opened to day traffic.
• 1850 National School established in Warwick - first in Queensland.
• 1871 The Warwick Caledonian Society formed.
• 1903 Warwick Co-operative Dairy Association's butter factory established.
• 1915 'Dungarees' Recruiting march from Warwick to Brisbane.
• 1936 Warwick proclaimed a city
• 1940 Darling Downs centenary celebrated in Warwick
• 1967 First stage of Leslie Dam completed.
• 1994 Warwick city and shires of Allora, Glengallan and Rosenthal amalgamated