CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Film Sets That Stay
Most film sets disappear. Ours are designed to create something more.
Magic Lands Alliance is developing a screen-anchored cultural infrastructure model in which selected structures, historical environments and production assets created for film can have a life beyond the screen.
Developed through First Nations collaboration, historical research and regional partnerships, selected assets may transition from production use into cultural, educational, tourism and community resources — creating opportunities for stories, knowledge and places developed through film to continue long after production.
FILM PRODUCTION →
CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE →
EDUCATION & TOURISM →
COMMUNITY LEGACY
From Screen Production to Lasting Legacy
Film production requires the research, design, construction and recreation of places, structures and historical environments.
Rather than viewing every production asset as temporary, MLA explores whether selected elements can be designed from the outset with potential future cultural, educational or community uses.
RESEARCH & CULTURAL COLLABORATION
Historical research • Cultural knowledge • Country • Story
↓
FILM PRODUCTION
Sets • Structures • Costumes • Replicas • Historical environments
↓
LEGACY TRANSITION
Cultural authority • Community consultation • Site agreements • Adaptation
↓
ONGOING USE
Education • Culture • Tourism • Community • Exhibitions • Future production
Retention and ongoing use are considered only where culturally appropriate and remain subject to Traditional Owner collaboration, cultural protocols, landholder agreements, feasibility, funding and relevant approvals.
What We Are Developing?
Traditional Shelters
Traditional shelters developed for Project One will help recreate historical environments while supporting cultural storytelling and production design.
Where culturally appropriate, selected structures may have a life beyond filming — supporting education, interpretation, community programs and place-based storytelling.
Design, construction, interpretation and any proposed ongoing use are developed through appropriate Traditional Owner and cultural collaboration.
Potential Uses: Culture • Storytelling • Education • Historical Interpretation • Community Programs
Cultural & Education Huts
MLA is exploring purpose-designed cultural and educational spaces that can transform research and material developed through film into immersive learning experiences.
Depending on location, cultural guidance and partnerships, these spaces could combine traditional construction, historical interpretation, cultural knowledge, audio storytelling, educational displays, QR-based resources and digital media.
They could support school groups, community programs, visitors and independent learners while creating a physical connection between MLA's digital education platform and Country.
Purpose: Education • Cultural Learning • School Programs • Digital Interpretation • Tourism • Community
Gathering Spaces
MLA is exploring larger gathering spaces that could support community, education, storytelling and culturally appropriate visitor experiences.
They may support cultural programs, talks, workshops, school groups, community gatherings and visitor experiences while creating a physical connection between the stories represented on screen and the Country where those stories belong.
Purpose: Community • Cultural Programs • Education • Events • Visitor Experiences
Historical Film Sets
Project One requires the recreation of historical environments representing early nineteenth-century southern Australia, including First Nations and colonial settings.
Rather than automatically dismantling every environment after production, MLA is exploring whether selected sets can be retained, relocated or adapted for future use.
Where feasible, these environments could support historical interpretation, education, tourism, exhibitions and future screen production — extending the value of production expenditure beyond a single film.
Purpose: Film Production • Historical Interpretation • Education • Tourism • Events • Future Screen Production
Heritage Environments
MLA's infrastructure vision extends beyond individual structures to the landscapes and historical environments connected to the stories themselves.
Project One explores locations across Victoria where Country, Culture, ecology, colonial history and screen storytelling intersect.
Where appropriate, interpretation and selected infrastructure could help visitors and learners better understand history in the places where it occurred.
Purpose: Place-Based Learning • Cultural Interpretation • Heritage • Tourism • History • Country
Exhibitions & Interpretation
The cultural assets created during film production can also become part of future exhibitions and educational programs.
Project One includes the development of costumes, handcrafted replicas, tools, production objects and culturally informed materials in collaboration with Traditional Owners, cultural advisers, artists and makers. Subject to cultural protocols, selected items may later support exhibitions, education and community programs.
Subject to cultural protocols, ownership, permissions and conservation requirements, selected production materials may later support exhibitions, educational programs and historical interpretation.
Future interpretation may include: Historical Displays • Cultural Interpretation • Audio Stories • QR Experiences • Educational Exhibitions • Film Production Material
Mobile Cultural Infrastructure
Not every cultural experience needs to remain in one place.
MLA is exploring movable cultural infrastructure and educational assets that can travel between communities, schools, events and regional locations.
This creates opportunities for stories and educational experiences developed through the project to reach audiences beyond permanent locations and form part of a broader cultural and historical network.
This allows communities and schools to engage with MLA educational material without requiring audiences to travel to a permanent destination.
Purpose: Regional Access • Schools • Community Events • Exhibitions • Education • Cultural Outreach
CONNECTED ACROSS COUNTRY
Cultural infrastructure is not intended to exist in isolation.
MLA's broader tourism vision explores how selected cultural, historical and educational assets could form part of a connected network of places and experiences across Victoria.
Rather than creating one central attraction, the model has the potential to connect communities, landscapes and stories while encouraging visitors to journey through Country and regional Victoria.
Explore the proposed Cultural & Historical Trail →
COSTUMES, ARTEFACTS & PROPS
Project One includes the creation of Indigenous costumes, artefacts, and cultural props developed in collaboration with Traditional Owners, cultural advisers, artists, and makers. Created for the feature film, these cultural assets may also support future education, exhibitions, and cultural interpretation.
Potential cultural assets include:
Traditional clothing and ceremonial garments
Cultural artefacts and handcrafted replicas
Hunting, fishing, and gathering implements
Traditional tools, weapons, and everyday objects
Interpretive exhibition displays
Proposed Legacy: Following production, selected costumes, artefacts and props may be retained for education, exhibitions and community programs, subject to cultural protocols and project partnerships.
DESIGNED FOR A LIFE BEYOND FILM
Where ongoing use is appropriate, MLA's infrastructure model considers the potential life of an asset from the beginning — not only its role during production.
This includes consideration of:
Cultural Authority
Who has authority over the stories, knowledge, designs and cultural use associated with the asset.
Future Purpose
How the asset could support education, Culture, community, tourism or future screen production.
Location & Stewardship
Where an asset could appropriately remain and who may manage or care for it.
Access & Interpretation
How communities, students or visitors could engage with the asset and its stories.
Adaptability
Whether structures or production assets can be retained, relocated, adapted or used in future projects.
Long-Term Sustainability
How partnerships, programming and future uses can help ensure infrastructure continues to provide value beyond production.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE POTENTIAL
The goal is not simply to preserve film sets.
It is to transform the research, skills, designs, and cultural assets generated through production into a network that can continue supporting:
CULTURE
Places for storytelling, cultural knowledge and community programs.
EDUCATION
Physical environments connected to MLA's research and digital learning platform.
COMMUNITY
Spaces for gatherings, programs, events and participation.
TOURISM
Culturally appropriate visitor experiences and regional journeys.
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Employment, enterprise, regional spending and future partnerships.
SCREEN INDUSTRY
Infrastructure and historical environments that may support future productions.
