A sense of connection underscores Deploy’s response for The Memorable Welcome - connection between people and country, between past and present, between locals and visitors, and the inextricable connection between industry and the rural city of Wangaratta.

WEAVE references Wangaratta’s industrial history, with a structure inspired by the saw-tooth roofs that featured heavily across 20th century factories including the former Bruck Rayon Mills.

The steel frame and canopy also references the mechanical aesthetic of this industrialised period. Its large scale allows for clear viewing from a distance, enticing onlookers to further examine the installation at a closer range.

The solid frame is interlaced with a weave of marine-grade rope, delicate albeit durable. The tight weave creates a dynamic play of shadows on the path below, whilst echoing the historical production of yarn in Wangaratta’s wool mills. A juxtaposition between past and present.

The weave is swatched with colours from the Wangaratta landscape - eucalyptus greens, dusty pinks of kangaroo grass, and willow myrtle burgundy - a palette once only privy to the Pangerang People who had a connection to the land long before its industrialisation.

The palette and materiality are congruent with the proposed designs from HASSELL. It is subtle yet pronounced, designed both to stand out and co-exist with its surroundings.

For those visiting by train, WEAVE becomes the portal between the outside world and Wangaratta. As they enter the Norton Street Railway precinct, the canopy above is as aesthetically impressive as it is imbued in historical and rural significance.

It is a place of meeting that brings together young and old, local and foreign - creating an opportunity for all to engage with each other and the story of Wangaratta.