Creative Spaces collaborated closely with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), scientists, and Noongar Traditional Owners to deliver a unique interpretive experience on Penguin Island / Goolidja Goorda. This partnership was essential, with all design and installation decisions guided by the movements and nesting habits of the Island’s resident little penguins, ensuring their habitat remained undisturbed.
The interpretation showcases the wider Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, offering an engaging and educational experience for visitors of all ages. The fit out of a new shelter featuring narrative-led signage, a digital kiosk, and a tactile map of the island. Studio Orange developed an augmented reality experience that reveals the hidden life of nesting penguins—rewarding curious visitors with a deeper layer of storytelling.
Artist Si Hummerston created detailed dioramas of underwater scenes, seabird nest sites, a penguin nesting box, along with a custom brass King Skink sculpture embedded into one of the interpretive panels.
Two Nature Play Trails (northern and southern) invite the young visitors to explore the island through interactive, scavenger hunt-style tasks. These are supported by a suite of traditional interpretive panels that share stories of place, nature, and culture.
Consultation with Noongar Traditional Owners ensured cultural knowledge is meaningfully embedded within both content and design, fostering deeper connections to Country.
This project was completed in June 2025.
–
Photos taken by Aaron Brown Photographer.
The award-winning Herdsman Lake Discovery Centre is another educational space we’ve previously worked on.
