Budj Bim Cultural Landscape

The Budj Bim network of channels, weirs and dams is recognised as one of the world's largest and oldest freshwater aquaculture systems, and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2019.

Service

Master Plan, Site Interpretation and Exhibition

Client

Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation

The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape of western Victoria is the traditional lands of the Gunditjmara people. The extensive aquaculture and fish trap systems and villages of stone huts were built and used by the Gunditjmara over a period of at least 6,700 years, pre-dating the Great Pyramids of Giza.

The Budj Bim landscape includes Lake Condah, Condah Mission, Tyrendarra Indigenous Protected Area, Kurtonitj and Budj Bim National Park.

LookEar in association with Mono Design, Cooper Scaife Architects, Sound Environment and Gib Wettenhall were commissioned to develop Master Plan conceptual designs for the interpretation and sensitive visitor infrastructure for this highly significant place.

This included:

extensive consultation and engagement with the members of the Gunditjmara community
development of interpretive themes, content and detailed designs
concepts for branding and wayfinding.

Subsequently, LookEar was commissioned to complete the detailed design and documentation for all interpretation elements, ready for manufacture and installation.

The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape project won the Victorian Premier's Design Award of the Year for 2023, and won four major awards at the 2023 Interpretation Australia National Awards for Excellence: