The lookout joins the Tree of Knowledge (2009) and The Globe Hotel (2016) as a local tourist destination. These three projects share a layered design approach that uses space, framing, and materials to reference and reinterpret the region’s vernacular architectural heritage.
Barcaldine is a desert oasis known as ‘the garden town of the west’ due its location above two artesian aquifers that enable large trees to thrive in the arid environment. The nearby Lara Wetlands attract migratory birds from around the world and clear night skies are perfect for stargazing.
The lookout offers expansive views across this unique landscape, rewarding visitors with a fresh perspective and adding to the town’s tourism infrastructure.
The form of the new lookout borrows from elevated, rural water tanks. An oversized lattice defines the building’s perimeter, framing views and drawing visitors to vantage points at the lookout’s edge.
The lattice provides shade and echoes the original western screen of the adjacent Globe Hotel, now an information centre. A raised walkway connects the lookout to the hotel’s first-floor verandah, extending the hotel’s distinctive, cross-braced timber framing to create a seamless link.
Our original Barcaldine Master Plan (2007-2010) aims to turn the town into a regional cultural centre, with projects designed for staged delivery as funding becomes available. The lookout’s lift and stairs are positioned to service a future cultural centre, encompassing a performing arts theatre and art gallery, to be integrated into the site over the next two decades.
The structure preferenced sustainable materials and was built by local tradespeople, minimising contractor mileage and supporting the community. An integrated value management process ensured that the budget was met without compromising the design.
The lookout provides another incentive for passing tourists to stop in Barcaldine, keeping the town’s cafes and pubs open and contributing to the long-term economic sustainability of the region.
On the land of the Iningai people.
