Government funding has been approved to support the development of two large-scale outdoor art installations located at the border of NSW and Victoria, on each side of the Murray River. Named Light/State the project will be one of the nation’s newest outdoor tourism attractions and comprises two awe-inspiring installations. The project is set to open in two phases with the Victorian project – ‘Trail of Light’ – premiering in late 2023, and the NSW installation – Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra (FOSO) – opening in the second half of 2024.

The internationally-recognised artist responsible for the projects is Bruce Munro, renowned for producing large-scale immersive site-specific light installations, such as Field of Light at Uluru. Mr Munro’s innovative and iconic installations are inspired largely by his interest in shared human experience and include emotive themes matched with natural landscapes. He has produced more than 45 exhibitions globally, including in Australia, UK, the USA, Denmark, Mexico, and South Korea.

“I’m delighted to have this project approved,” said Bruce. “This region has such an interesting topography and I am thrilled to embark on the installation in collaboration with the local community.”

Wentworth Shire Council in partnership with Mildura Regional Development were successful in securing $4.99 million of final funding as part of the NSW Regional Tourism Activation Fund (Round 2). In addition, there is $1.26 million from other local contributors, bringing the total project value to $6.25million. n Victoria, Mildura Regional Development secured $3 million in Victorian Government funding in May 2022 for the Victorian installation at Lake Cullulleraine and with additional sponsorship for the balance of the total project delivery.

Victoria’s Trail of Light is currently in production and will be installed on the natural lakeside escarpment on the west side of Lake Cullulleraine. It will comprise 12,550 illuminated ‘fireflies’, 502 ‘pods’ and projectors and 126 solar units to form a meandering stream of light. Trail of Light will be experienced each evening with a reflective walking journey, starting at the main Lake Cullulleraine walking track and following the trial where a magical installation of springs, consisting of over 301,200 flickering points of light guide the way. There will be various stopping points for photo opportunities and to take in the scale of the project.

The Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra (FOSO) installation, announced by NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole on 31 January this year, will be an abstract installation with a light-responsive Symphonic Orchestra. In this installation, some eighty, two meter high, five-meter diameter light installations, in the form of the iconic Hill’s Hoist, will represent the musicians. Cylindrical arrays of fibre optic cables will encircle each Hills Hoist, making it a column of light. As the fibre optic columns change through a rainbow of colours to a symphonic soundtrack, viewers will experience sound translated into colour, creating a unique, uplifting experience. In addition to viewing locations from the escarpment, visitors can walk amongst the installation for an immersive experience.

The project will be supported by infrastructure such as roads, site transfers, parking spaces, glamping and increased accommodation options. An array of hospitality offerings will also form part of the attraction.

Mildura Regional Development CEO, Brett Millington added “We’re excited to be able to deliver the whole project of Light/State, which we know will add value to our regional economy and build on further cross-border opportunities.”

The project is being developed in conjunction with Pico Play, one of Australia’s leading major-attraction design firms. Pico Play is currently seeking alliance partners and sponsors for the project. “This will be one of the regions largest tourism attractions providing strong investment returns for our project partners”, said Noel Dempsey, tourism expert and Business Director at Pico Play.

Drawing on the success and appeal of similar works of scale by Mr Munro, the after-dark installations are predicted to attract 300,000 overnight visitors over the installation’s first two-years. The project will also significantly lift Mildura’s profile as a region to live, work and invest. The project is expected to inject up to $150million into the local economy per annum and support tourism, retail and commercial industries – unlocking regional transformation.