Signal Point Experience Centre

In 2020 the Australian Government and the  Government of South Australia announced funding commitments to Alexandrina Council's proposed Goolwa Wharf Precinct Revitalisation Project.

Council would receive $3.75 million from the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund and $1.25 million from the Government of South Australia.

In July 2021, the Goolwa Wharf Precinct’s Signal Point building received $980,000 from the Australian Government under the Murray–Darling Basin Economic Development Program (Round 3) to create a state-of-the-art exhibition for an 'Experience Centre'. The resulting exhibition Yuntulun Ku:li-war would showcase Ngarrindjeri and colonial heritage, the ecology of the Murray River, Lower Lakes and Coorong and activate the building space.

The upgrade to the building would include replacing the roof, adding solar panels to the building, installing new heating and cooling systems, installing a solar shelter at the rear of the building, installing a front canopy, and landscaping the forecourt to improve the connection between the building and the Wharf.

Yuntulun Ku:li-war was open to the public in March 2024 with final work on the Signal Point Experience Centre building completed in October 2024,

Click the below image to see the Summary Fact Sheet.

Timeline for Goolwa Wharf Precinct Revitalisation Project

Project Design

The Signal Point project team worked with Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation representatives, local stakeholders and historians to develop a concept-level design for the Signal Point Experience Centre. Efforts focussed on a layout, electrical/communications approach and the built components to support an immersive and memorable experience through lighting, sound and dimensions that worked with the architecture of the building. Workshops were held to refine the exhibition's storytelling narrative.

Yuntulun Ku:li-war exhibition

This Yuntulun Ku:li-war exhibition and associated works were funded by the Australian Government through a grant from the Murray–Darling Basin Economic Development Program.

To deliver the exhibition project, Council established an integrated project team, including a local exhibition design and construction company, Exhibition Studios.  Since October 2021, the project team worked to collate stories of the Goolwa Wharf and develop a design for the exhibition structure to support multiple screens and other electronic devices,

Work was undertaken to assess how the space could best be used to deliver a quality visitor experience, whilst maintaining the vista and connection to the Goolwa Wharf. Additionally, an assessment of the internal building requirements was undertaken to understand what work needed to be done to the internal area of the building to support the exhibition such as electrical and communications upgrades.

Working together to create a storytelling experience

A Steering Group made up of Council personnel, Council Member representatives, an Environmental Specialist from the South Australian Department of Environment and Water and community members was formed in late 2021. The group worked with the project team to compile stories of the Goolwa Wharf and to guide the storytelling exhibition narrative.

The Steering Group includes prominent, local historian, Mr Frank Tuckwell OAM.  Frank has been a National Trust member for over 40 years, during which time he established a heritage standing committee within the Goolwa Branch to provide advice to local government on heritage matters.  Frank has a 40-year-old connection to the Signal Point building, having been the Director of the Signal Point Interpretative Centre (1989-1996), which opened as part of the 1988 Australian bicentenary celebrations.

Other members of the project Steering Group included Mr Roly Bartlett OAM, renowned for his knowledge of steamboats and the history of riverboat trade on the Murray River, and Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation (RTNB) Chief Executive Mr Tim Hartman. Tim played a key role in helping to connect the project team with local Ngarrindjeri arts and language leaders.

The group met regularly to discuss the progress of the narrative with the project team, review design development and provide feedback and guidance on how best to capture the spirit of Goolwa’s unique heritage and river ecology.

Ngarrindjeri Design Workshops

*Design workshop with local Ngarrindjeri artist, Mr Cedric Varcoe at the South Coast Regional Arts Centre

The Signal Point Experience Centre celebrates the Ngarrindjeri connection to the wharf area and surrounds, sharing stories of how this place has always been and continues to be a place of cultural significance. The project team worked with Ngarrindjeri Nation representatives to co-design elements of the exhibition, to share history from a Ngarrindjeri perspective through truth-telling and to explore the sophisticated environmental and living cultural practices of Ngarrindjeri such as weaving and storytelling.

Works from local artists were commissioned to form part of the exhibition and to be incorporated into the displays and interactives.

Weaving

The Ngarrindjeri word for weaving is Laken. Weaving is an important form of cultural expression for Ngarrindjeri men and women and forms part of contemporary Ngarrindjeri culture.  Bulrushes, reeds and sedges are used for basket-weaving, and to make nets, bags and other tools.  The Signal Point Experience Centre exhibition will further explore the history and practice of weaving.

Engagement Workshops

During the design and concept delivery process, Council hosted engagement workshops with community members and industry specialists. The workshops offered an opportunity for the project team to share the preliminary exhibition design and collect insights and feedback that will inform the next stage of work.

What did we hear?

The Alexandrina Council and its communities acknowledge the Ngarrindjeri, Peramangk and Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters of our Council district

The Signal Point Experience Centre design imagery includes Ngarrindjeri imagery from various productions used with the agreement of the production owner, Change Media.  If you would like more information or to view the productions, please visit http://www.ngarrindjeri-culture.org/video

Project benefits

The Signal Point Experience Centre project was designed to deliver progressive and functional facilities and unlock strong opportunities for economic growth and business expansion through increased public awareness of the area’s rich history and the opportunity for recreational visitation.

The Centre tells the rich stories surrounding the Goolwa Wharf precinct and its waters. The stories are based on place, culture, economy and environment; and themed against a timeline stretching from ‘deep time’ origins, linkages to Ngarrindjeri and their connection to place and water, through to colonisation and the role the wharf, wooden boats, steam and rail played in opening up Australia’s first export trade opportunities.

The internal upgrade of the Signal Point building complements and leverages the initial investment as part of the existing Goolwa Wharf Precinct Project. The upgrade included replacing the roof and adding solar panels to the building, installing new heating and cooling systems and landscaping the forecourt to improve the connection between the building and the Wharf.

Upgrades to the building have ensured the rich history and authentic stories are shared and celebrated.

Council’s significant financial contribution to the project demonstrates a commitment to the preservation of the State-listed heritage of the Goolwa Wharf Precinct and shows support for our region’s visitor economy and the growth of local businesses.

The Goolwa Wharf Precinct project, including work on the Signal Point building, received funding support from the Australian Government and the Government of South Australia. The Yuntulun Ku;li-war Exhibition was funded by the Australian Government.

View the FAQs here.