Mt Elephant
Visitor Centre
One of the Western District’s most recognised landmarks now has a dedicated visitor centre, delivered through a strong collaboration with the local community.
LOCATION
Derrinallum, Victoria
COMPLETION DATE
November 2016
TYPE OF PROJECT
Public building
PROJECT VALUE
AUD$500k
STATUS
Complete
CLIENT
Mount Elephant Community
Beyond its visitor function, the building delivers a flexible community asset that supports local use and adds long-term value to the site.
Project Overview
We were delighted to collaborate with the Mount Elephant community, to deliver a new visitor centre at one of the region’s most recognisable landmarks. The building was sited atop the original floor of the old quarry and was constructed from rammed earth. Its natural, earthy aesthetic blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, offering shelter for visitors and features displays with large windows that provide a spectacular view of the mountain and its surrounding landscape.
Project Success & Impact
The sustainable building has a modern design that serves also as a tourism centre and community meeting space, allowing for different occasions to easily be held in the building. Building with rammed earth was a unique but rewarding experience for MKM, given its multiple advantages including superior thermal mass, temperature and noise control, strength and durability, low maintenance, fire proofing, load-bearing, and pest deterrence. Additionally it holds significant aesthetic appeal and is a satisfying building material due to its natural and environmental qualities.
