OUTBACK MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA
STAGE 1 | 2024
The Outback Museum of Australia (OMOA) is located in the inland rural town of Charleville, Queensland, a region prone to both flooding and drought. The resilience, vulnerability, and adaptive capacity of its community have shaped a design response centred on climatic resilience, sustainability, and cultural connection. OMOA creates a destination for Charleville, showcasing the stories of its people and the unique flora and fauna that call the great Australian Outback home.
A striking, expansive circular roof hovers over the site like a contemporary verandah, offering deep shade from the harsh sun while incorporating a central void that opens to the sky. Designed for tropical and subtropical conditions, the roof facilitates cross ventilation, provides functional outdoor spaces, enables water harvesting, and offers protection from extreme weather.
Constructed from custom tapering sheets of Longreach, the roof channels rainfall toward catchments in the central courtyard, creating dramatic waterfalls during the wet season and celebrating water as a vital barometer of climate and culture in this place.
The roof unifies the museum’s program: ten pavilions, each housing a different exhibit or activity, cluster around a central landscape courtyard. This circular gathering space forms the heart of the museum, inviting the community to gather for smoking ceremonies and fire; a place for celebration, storytelling, and connection to Country beneath the stars.
Rammed earth walls contribute significant thermal mass, improving comfort as temperatures rise due to climate change, reducing reliance on energy-intensive cooling systems, and grounding the museum materially in the arid Charleville landscape.
Building in a remote region presents unique challenges, and the design of OMOA reflects innovation, collaboration, and a deep connection to its surroundings. The project prioritises local trades and resources, fostering economic growth and community empowerment while aiming to preserve cultural heritage and inspire future generations toward sustainable living.
It acknowledges the cultural beliefs, customs, waterways, and Dreaming stories of First Nations people that make the land on which it sits unique.
This tough, resilient piece of architecture is well suited to the climatic extremes it will face, and its utilitarian material palette is intended to age gracefully, registering time and occupancy. OMOA embraces Country in a dynamic, contemporary manner—seeking to be a place of ritual, reflection, and healing, while also acting as a catalyst for an exciting future. March Studio won a national competition for the museum, conducted by Griffith University. Stage 1 has been completed, and Stage 2 will proceed once additional funding is secured.
-
MUSEUM
-
STAGE 01 COMPLETE | 2025
-
BIDJARA | CHARLEVILLE
-
BUILDER | SPANTECH
ENGINEER | ALDANMARK
SERVICES ENGINEER | FLOTH
-
CRAIG LUCAS
-
CRAIG LUCAS | MATT STANLEY