Winner
Public Design
Designer
Cox Architecture
Design statement —
Rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the original Waltzing Matilda Centre, the building is an exuberant celebration of the famous ballad. Using metaphors of an ancient landscape, the striking forms and crafted, tactile materiality draw visitors into the building’s cool, gorge-like interiors, an immersive sequence of towering, fluid spaces. The brief was to house Winton’s extensive collection of historical artefacts, memorabilia and collateral pertaining to the song, its authors and the region. The design creates maximum effect in visitor experience by carefully crafting space and materials. The $13-million budget was used sparingly, a task made challenging by the constraints of a remote site. Accommodated within is a dedicated exhibition space, reading room, spectacular arrival space, gallery, retail outlet, tourist…
