Work starts on Glass House interpretive centre
From pineapples to mountain peaks, the attractions of the Glass House region are about to be brought to life like never before, as work starts on the latest stage of the Glass House Mountains Visitor and Interpretive Centre.
From pineapples to mountain peaks, the attractions of the Glass House region are about to be brought to life like never before, as work starts on the latest stage of the Glass House Mountains Visitor and Interpretive Centre.
The $1 million visitor centre has been wowing 500 visitors a week since it opened with a bang in May. The eco-designed centre, with its own rainwater tanks and landscaped gardens, is the first visitor centre to greet tourists heading north to the Sunshine Coast.
The next exciting stage of the project is the development of the interpretive space within the building, which will highlight the cultural, historic and natural attractions of the Glass House region. The Queensland Government provided a Regional Centres Program Grant of $475,000 and the Australian Government provided $273,454 (GST inclusive) through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government to construct the Visitor and Interpretive Centre.
Division One Councillor Anna Grosskreutz today announced that, following a very competitive tender process, the contract to design the Interpretive Centre had been awarded to the Brisbane-based firm ToadShow Pty Ltd.
ToadShow is a media production company that has developed many museums and exhibitions including Bundaberg's Hinkler Hall of Aviation, Dogwood Crossing Cultural Centre at Miles, the RACQ’s “Bulldust to Bitumen” travelling exhibition, and most recently the interpretive elements in the restoration of Old Government House in Brisbane.
Cr Grosskreutz said the company had already set up meetings with key local people to discover the sort of information that visitors seek and the significant local stories that need to be told.
"I’m excited that the final stage to this project is now underway because it will provide the finishing touches to what is already a world-class facility that has done the Sunshine Coast proud,” she said.
Cr Anna said the design brief was to give visitors a virtual glimpse into the area’s greatest attractions using the latest technology.
“It will be something new for the region – a user-friendly and interactive place, using a variety of multimedia programs and static displays,” she said.
“Visitors will get an insight into the way both Indigenous and European culture has shaped this region.”
Managing Partner of ToadShow Pty Ltd, Anne Jones, said everyone at ToadShow was very excited to be working with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council on developing the Glass House Mountains Interpretive Centre.
"The Glass House Mountains are an iconic location of great significance – it is a great privilege to work on the Interpretive Centre," she said.
The ToadShow team is currently conducting a series of meetings with volunteers from the Visitor Information Centre, local heritage groups, representatives of the local Indigenous people, tourism bodies and Queensland Parks and Wildlife rangers.
The centre is scheduled to open early in 2010.