Bruny Island Neck

Lunawanna-Alonnah/Bruny Island, Lutruwita/Tasmania
Interpetation for Bruny Island Neck

Client: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Concept, writing and project coordination: Fiona Rice
Design: Alex Miles
Collaborators: Trish Hodge (Aboriginal content)

*Existing monument on top viewing deck by others

The Neck on Bruny Island is part of the homelands of the Nuenonne. It is a very popular tourist destination and is often the first stop for visitors to the island. As such, the interpretation response was designed to introduce the site’s key stories and values (Nuenonne, continuing culture, penguins and shearwaters and the isthmus) and to include clear management messages for expected behaviour within protected areas. Tasmanian Aboriginal stories were developed by Trish Hodge in consultation with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. Maireener shells feature across the site and culminate in a necklace motif on the top viewing deck as a representation of continuing culture. At this site the hero is the living landscape and its cultural history, so for minimal impact interpretation is contained within the boardwalk, and its materiality and palette sensitive to surrounds and story. Penguin and shearwater stories are presented playfully, with language aimed at younger visitors. Messaging is brief, simple and memorable to avoid traffic congestion, and is strongly visual to ensure it is understood by an international audience.