'Alchemy: The Lustre of Hill End', at the Hill End Heritage Centre, is a significant outcome of SUPERSENSE’s extensive interpretation work for the Hill End Historic Site. SUPERSENSE co-authored a comprehensive interpretation strategy for the site, identifying five interpretive themes and key stories. This research guided the curation and design of ‘Alchemy: The Lustre of Hill End’, a bespoke permanent heritage interpretive exhibition experience at The Hill End Heritage Centre.
This project was awarded the NSW National Trust Heritage Award for Interpretation and Education in 2017 and was shortlisted for The Australian Interior Design Awards, 2017, in the Installation Category.
The Hill End Heritage Centre, an adaptively reused fire station in the town centre, was carefully renovated in collaboration with architects to preserve its industrial character, showcasing its history through rusted corrugated iron sheets that reflect its evolution over time.
The exhibition design integrates technology into modular built forms and is designed to be unobtrusive, enhancing the visitor experience. All labels are digital, providing detailed information accessible via touch screens.
The exhibition space comprises small, segmented areas. We tailored content and the interpretive experience to each unique space. For example, a small heritage room serves as an intimate venue for viewing Harry Hodge’s 1960s-era town model. An innovative AV and object theatre piece is centred around the skeletal remnants of a heritage cottage within the shed, creating a surprising interior feature.
Digital interpretation outcomes were developed to showcase the archive’s photographic wealth. A large interactive touch screen displays historical town photographs, while large-scale prints from the historic Holtermann Collection line the walls. A 6-metre-long illuminated floor panel features a panoramic view of the town from 1872. Additionally, a unique donation box video experience has proven successful in fundraising efforts.
Architectural collaborator
Chee Lam
Digital collaborators
State Library of NSW DLab and Macadamia
AV collaborator
Brian Shirley and Luscious
Strategy, curatorial and content creation collaborator
GML Heritage
Photography and video documentation
Anthea Williamson
Alchemy: The Lustre of Hill End
An exhibition that tells stories of Hill End from deep time to today
'Alchemy: The Lustre of Hill End', at the Hill End Heritage Centre is a key outcome of SUPERSENSE’s in-depth interpretation work for Hill End Historic Site as a whole.
This project won a NSW National Trust Heritage Award for Interpretation and Education and was shortlisted for The Australian Interior Design Awards.
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'Alchemy: The Lustre of Hill End', at the Hill End Heritage Centre is a key outcome of SUPERSENSE’s in-depth interpretation work for Hill End Historic Site as a whole.
This project won a NSW National Trust Heritage Award for Interpretation and Education and was shortlisted for The Australian Interior Design Awards.
