Construction of the long-awaited Australian Opal Centre (AOC) on Yuwaalaraay Country at Lightning Ridge, north-western New South Wales is progressing rapidly and stage 1 of the new centre is expected to open in mid-2025.
The facility will be the world’s leading not-for-profit centre dedicated to the science, art, industry, people and culture of opals – Australia’s national gemstone. It will house permanent and temporary exhibitions, support scientific research and creative collaborations, offer educational, training and cultural programs, and celebrate the significant cultural contribution made by Australian mining.
Designed by architect Wendy Lewin working with DunnHillam, after an original concept by Wendy Lewin and world-renowned architect Glenn Murcutt, the new AOC Stage 1 will comprise a 12m high, 65m long exhibition space within a remarkable, partly subterranean building. Future stages will add offices, workshops, a research library, curatorial facilities, learning spaces and an underground Gondwanan garden.
The innovative structure, recessed into the earth on a historic opal field, has already attracted keen interest. The concept was exhibited in Japan as part of an Australian Government-initiated exhibition of contemporary Australian architecture and was named one of the most anticipated buildings of 2024 by ArchitectureAU.
In addition to being a pioneer of new approaches to architectural design in semi-arid environments and a landmark new tourist experience, the vision of the AOC is to spark economic and cultural reinvigoration in Walgett Shire and far beyond – through regional and remote New South Wales, opal-producing locations in Queensland and South Australia and everywhere opal is valued and traded.
Walgett Shire is recognised as one of the most economically and socially disadvantaged LGAs in Australia. The Shire and its government funding partners are investing in the new Australian Opal Centre to build on the region’s unique natural and cultural assets, invigorate economic development, elevate tourism and cultural development, enhance community connectivity and importantly, foster confidence, pride and opportunities for the people of the region, including our young people and First Nations community members.
Partnerships with the Federal and New South Wales Governments, Walgett Shire Council and AOC Founders (community and industry donors) has secured funding of $32 million.
Award-winning Arterial Designs is poised to bring the new AOC to life, alongside the AOCL project team, funding partners and majority Indigenous-owned builder Barpa.
The AOC is a true ‘people’s project’. The people have gifted and made the AOC custodian of a priceless, nationally significant public collection, have contributed their own funds and, after 25 years and many tens of thousands of volunteer hours, the new AOC is now emerging from beneath precious Yuwaalaraay Country at Lightning Ridge.
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