Kershaw Gardens Wayfinding and Signage

Kershaw Gardens is a 50 hectare area of parkland bordered by the Bruce Highway - Moores Creek Road, High Street, Dowling Street and Moores Creek, which flows through the gardens on the eastern boundary, and into the Fitzroy River. 

Kershaw Gardens consists of a network of nature walks, gardens - including a scenic artificial waterfall, a slab hut, a dog training area and a large recreational area near the main highway entrance with a number of picnic shelters, a sensory garden and a children's playground area.

In 2017 Urbis was appointed principal consultant to realise the Landscape Revitalisation for Kershaw Gardens. Dotdash was engaged as a sub consultant to Urbis to deliver the wayfinding and signage contributing to the rebuilding, reinvigorating and redefining of the Gardens.

Part of our remit was to design major entry statements, acting as landmarks and placemaking elements to attract motorists and pedestrians at the Moores Creek Entry. Clearly visible from a distance, the oversized brightly coloured leaves announce the arrival at the site, creating a sense of anticipation and setting a tone for the Gardens.

The circulation experience was built on reinforcing the strong intuitive spine that runs through the Gardens on a North South axis. Signage was kept to a minimum to allow users to enjoy the experience of being in the Gardens, mindfully designing messaging and signage to balance providing public safety and security information.

The sign forms were designed from the perspective of needing to be robust, cost effective, have a long life, be low maintenance, made locally and be simple to assemble.

The whole of project focused on designing information in the built environment including -

Wayfinding - a signage system that helps all visitors understand and best use the park as well as connect with the surrounding environment.

Interpretation - a series of elements that integrates into the fabric of the site to express and explain the natural and cultural histories of the site. These may include freestanding signs or structures or embedment into walls, floors, furniture, etc.

In particular our scope of service included the following deliverables - 

• A wayfinding strategy for the whole of site.
• Concepts for sign types such as site entry signage, arrival and orientation signs including park map, directional signs, advice signs, amenity signs and interpretive signs taking into account statutory or –regulatory information.
• Design development and construction documentation of all sign types.

Client: Urbis, principal consultant to Rockhampton Regional Council