Maryborough Railway Station Activation
A series of playful and informative experiences that bring the Maryborough Railway Station Visitor Centre and its gold rush history to life.
Sandpit worked with the Central Goldfields Shire Council to realise their vision of a contemporary re-imagining of the Maryborough Visitor Information Centre (VIC), located inside its historic railway station. Our work included the creation of a short animated film, a series of beautifully designed informational panels, and a one of a kind interactive piece entitled ‘Worth Its Weight in Gold’.
The animated film, created in collaboration with animator Raynor Pettge, sound designer Matthew Hadley and illustrator Daikota Nelson, tells the story of the discovery of the Welcome Stranger, the largest alluvial gold nugget ever found, weighing in at approximately 109 kgs. The animation plays on a dramatic, 180°, floor-to-ceiling LED screen.
‘Worth Its Weight in Gold’, playfully encourages visitors to weigh whatever’s in their pockets and find out what it would be worth in today’s live gold price, comparing it back to the Welcome Stranger.
Sandpit worked closely with the VIC team and a large cross section of local stakeholders to understand what stories were most relevant to the area, and designed a series of panels that tell local stories in interesting ways. We also worked collaboratively with Djaara, a representative body of the Dja Dja Wurrung people, to ensure that their story was woven throughout the entire VIC experience and that creative representation of their people and country was authentic and handled with care.
The design aesthetic across the board speaks to the heritage history of the building, bringing it into the modern day with the use of minimalist, abstract shapes and bright pops of colour.
