New technology enhances projection and display at Gold Coast’s Australian Outback Spectacular

A recently completed installation by world leading digital projection and display technology company Christie’s Boxer and Pandoras Box solutions at the Australian Outback Spectacular has revitalised the venue.

Since opening in 2006, the popular Gold Coast dining attraction has recreated the spirit of the Australian Outback to life with live performers, animals and immersive elements including lighting, sound, fog, wind and snow.

The arena, with its corrugated iron roof and galvanised railings, is fully themed to evoke the spirit of the Australian high country and includes a winding billabong near the entrance and vintage wagon wheel light fittings.

According to Christie, while the show continued to impress, the image quality on the arena’s 35 metre x 9 metre high projection screen had declined, so, with the venue deciding it was time for a technology refresh, its venue’s integration partner, Customised Technical Solutions (CTS), worked with Christie Australia to enhance the show with brighter, clearer images.

With the dusty environment creating particular challenges, CTS selected the Christie Boxer 2K30 for its affordability, as well as features including 4K upgradability.

Needing to overcome high ambient light levels and the audience’s close proximity to the screen, the solution was an array of four Christie Boxer projectors, stacked in pairs, with a centre blend.

The ambience of the venue poses its own particular challenges for technology solutions- the show takes place on sand which aims to evoke ‘glistening high country snow’.

However, while this adds to the atmosphere for the audience, the dusty environment - which is also hot and humid - takes its toll on technological equipment.

To ensure smooth running despite the heat and dust, the projectors are housed in sealed environmental enclosures on individual sliding drawers, allowing them to slide out for easy maintenance.

A Christie Pandoras Box manages the content, ensuring the technical team has complete control over the entire workflow.

The result, says Christie, is an immersive experience that continues to thrill audiences and is now even better than ever.

Images of the Australian Outback Spectacular show the Heroes of the Light Horse (top) and a 'snowy' high country scene (below).