Gariwerd, Victoria, Australia
McGregor Coxall and Noxon Giffen, along with OPS Engineers have designed ten new hike-in campsites for Parks Victoria along the Grampians Peaks Trail (GPT) Stage 2, which will offer a world-class hiking experience along the over 160 kilometers of pristine Gariwerd wilderness.
The project is wilderness bound by a series of breathtaking views and memorable experiences through a walk that will conserve, protect, and celebrate the landscape’s unique beauty while achieving the highest possible grade of environmental sensitivity.
A major drawcard takes the form of ten new minimalistic campsites, featuring amenities restricted to essentials of tent platforms, communal areas, shelters, and toilets to amplify the hiker experience with an appropriate level of comfort.
The trail traverses the lands of three traditional owners being Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation and Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and includes three regional council jurisdictions.
The project includes ten sites along the GPT plus the group site of Stony Creek but excludes Stage 1 at Bugiga, undertaken previously by others.
The architectural brief called for provision of structures at selected campsites along the trail, being: Communal Hiker Shelter, Amenities pods, and Gariwerd Camp Huts.
The trail and campsite locations were established by Parks Victoria whilst lead consultant and multidisciplinary design firm (Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Environment) McGregor Coxall were responsible for setting design palettes, site layouts, and landscape architecture—working closely with Noxon Giffen and structural engineers OPS Engineers in a highly-collaborative operation spanning three and half years.
Fundamental to Parks Victoria brief were three key elements: celebration of Gariwerd (Grampians) with the landscape as hero; recognition of the scale and diversity of the terrain with site-responsive designs; and adoption of design strategies for construction and maintenance in response to the remote nature of the trail.
As part of the design process, Parks Victoria worked closely with Traditional Owners to define clear guidelines and boundaries for landform, ecology, spatial typology, and cultural immersion at each site.
As a result, the trail will bring visitors closer to the rich Aboriginal culture of the Jardwadjali and Djab Wurrung peoples who have lived in these ranges for thousands of years.
Project: Grampians Peaks Trail Stage 2
Architects: McGregor Coxall Australia Pty Ltd. and Noxon Giffen Architecture
Mc Gregor Coxall Project Director: Nick Griffin
Mc Gregor Coxall Design Team: Thomas Flugge, Rupert Carmichael, and Christian Borchert
Noxon Giffen Design Director: Justin Noxon
Noxon Giffen Project Architect: Andrew Jenner
Noxon Giffen Design Team: Darren Giffen, Stephanie Morgia, Olivia Peel, and Sophie Chomard
Structural Engineers: OPS Engineers
Client: Parks Victoria
Photographers: Shannon McGrath Photography
