Maryborough Railway Station Activation - Stage 5 - $3 million
The ask - $3 million
Funding for Stage 5 of the iconic Maryborough Railway Station precinct to broaden the storytelling capability of the existing multi-media infrastructure to further support the World Heritage Bid.
The brief
With funding support from the State Government, in 2023, stage three of the Maryborough Railway Station activation project delivered a world class interpretative centre.
At the heart of the project was the delivery of a theatrette featuring multi-media infrastructure where visitors can watch the “Welcome Stranger” digital animation.
The engaging Welcome Stranger animation, developed in partnership with DJAARA, facilitates truth sharing and introduces diverse narratives of the mid-nineteenth century goldrush period in the region that, while so very important, are rarely told.
The Welcome Stranger digital animation is identified as an exemplar project and a model to be replicated in the Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Master Plan.
The Master Plan positions the Victorian Goldfields as Australia’s foremost World Heritage Journeys destination: renowned universally, captivating global audiences and honouring the richness of First Peoples experiences and the global goldrush story.
It has also helped earn recognition in the recently released Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Master Plan. The Station with its wonderful Visitor Centre is cited as a benchmark for ‘World Heritage Hubs’/visitor centres across the region.
Further funding is needed so that we can continue to develop product as we wait for the World Heritage Bid to be realised.
With the theatrette and multi-media infrastructure in place – we have an opportunity to share other stories that help to build tourism and transition people through the region.
The benefits
✓ Provides a key driver for the local and regional visitor economy as a “must visit” destination
✓ Encourages wider and extended local regional visitation and greater spend by showcasing engaging stories of regional locations in an immersive way and boosts a recovering regional economy
✓ Promotes civic pride and investment attraction as this splendid heritage building is used in creative and engaging ways putting Maryborough and Central Goldfields on the map
✓ Supports the World Heritage Bid through maintaining and enhancing a highly valued heritage-listed asset