A HERITAGE exhibition telling the story of food production in Gawler has received an Interpretation Australia national award for excellence.
Town of Gawler's 'Golden Land: The Story of Food Production in Gawler' received the nod for excellence in the $15,000-$50,000 project category.
The exhibition, which opened at the Gawler Heritage Gallery in March, explores part of the complex history of food production in Gawler from the Kaurna community's self-sufficient and sustainable lifestyle to the industrial-scale production of wheat, eggs, dairy and brewed beverages.
Gawler has played a pivotal role in feeding not just locals, but export markets across Australia.
The exhibition was designed by Richard Browning of Synthetic Creative Services and is the third delivered by the Gawler Cultural Heritage Centre, reaffirming Council's strong commitment to supporting culture and the arts in the community.
"The Golden Land exhibition is an exciting, interpretive display for everyone; not just people in Gawler, but for the whole region," Gawler Mayor Karen Redman said.
"It's exceptionally gratifying to see a national award come our way as a result of this work, and the investment by Council.
"Some 19,000 people have visited this exhibition since 2019; that's an incredible accolade for the Town of Gawler, and to be recognised on a national stage raises the bar and shows Gawler to be a leader in this space."
Mrs Redman congratulated exhibition designer Richard Browning of Synthetic Creative, staff and everyone involved, along with the National Trust of Gawler and other individuals who donated to the display.
In their summation, the expert panel of judges made note of the effectiveness of the timeline of kitchens within the exhibition, which utilises the principles of personal relatability to enhance the visitor experience.
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The specific inclusion of a wall of kitchens - four different styles from four different eras - is designed to do more than just educate on the equipment found in kitchens past; it allows visitors to connect with their own memories.
The stylistic renditions of kitchens from the 1950s and 1980s are particularly popular and reminds many visitors of their grandparents' homes, prompting discussions about how kitchens have changed.
Visitors are encouraged to leave their own memories of memorable meals and the special people who created them on specially-created 'recipe cards', which Gallery staff pin on a noticeboard for everyone to enjoy.
"It's a fantastic achievement for a smaller, newly-established cultural institution to win a national award; it really puts you on the map and it brings both South Australian and interstate visitors to Gawler," Synthetic Creative's Richard Browning said.
"I really feel this is an exhibition for the community and am proud to have been involved in bringing it to life."
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