Pondi Playspace, Sturt Reserve

WAX Design in partnership with Ngarrindjeri Ruwe Empowered Communities (NREC), Rural City of Murray Bridge, Sproutt and Exhibition Studios, undertook an extensive co-design process for the design of Sturt Reserve. This process was fundamental and enabled the Ngarrindjeri to share ideas and discuss the embedding of culture within the open space and playspace upgrades for Sturt Reserve.

As the project progressed, the idea of cultural learning through play became critical. Ngarrindjeri provided clear direction on cultural appropriateness of telling Dreaming stories, Ngarrindjeri heritage and teaching visitors about Country.

WAX worked with Exhibition Studios and Kaebel Leisure to create play experiences that captured important cultural stories. Pondi, the river creator and Ngurunderi are major focal points in the playspace. At the same time, other stories associated with Ritjaruki, Thukubi and Nori were designed as unique play experiences. The playspace is designed to be immersive, educational, interactive, fun and sensory with the landscape design reclaiming the European open space through the planting of native and endemic species.

The Sturt Reserve Master Plan was recently awarded a 2024 PIA SA Award for Planning Excellence – Planning with Country.