The Budj Bim Master Plan establishes requirements for sustainable tourism, visitation, and educational opportunities for the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, named after the Gunditjmara name for Mount Eccles in Victoria’s western plains north of Warrnambool.
The project involved constructing structures and walkways that blend with the environment while preserving the area’s integrity. The Gunditjmara people have inhabited this region for thousands of years, creating stone huts and aquaculture systems. The plan aims to showcase and protect this indigenous landscape, allowing ecotourism and education while preserving Indigenous Protected Areas. Nicholson Construction were engaged to build a variety of educational and viewing features throughout five Budj Bim heritage locations:
- BUDJ BIM NATIONAL PARK: Cantilevered steel lookout, hard landscaping (bluestone pavers and walls), sound and light visitor centre refurb, toilet and shower refurbishment.
- KURTONITJ IPA: Extensive steel boardwalks through dense bushland, a 20M diameter bluestone Indigenous calendar, charred cladding birdhide.
- LAKE CONDAH: Aqauculture centre (dining and kitchen with extensive artwork and detailed joinery plus a viewing area and eel tank system), boardwalk / jetty, car park, extensive soft and hard landscaping, 30M culvert crossing.
- TYRENDARRA IPA: Network of boardwalks, creek bridge, large charred cladding structures for information and toilets, carpark, rain garden, hard landscaping.
- TYRENDARRA TOWNSHIP: Charred cladded toilet, picnic and information shelters plus soft/hard landscaping.
Added to the UNESCO World Heritage list for its ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ in 2019, the infrastructure around Budj Bim has created an immersive learning environment while maintaining and protecting this unique historical landscape.
