They might look like simple wooden pillars from a distance but up close they will give people a different view of Maitland’s history.
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Maitland City Council has proposed installing vertical posts at various places around the city that will provide an audio-visual immersion in the region’s history.
The idea is part of council’s Interpretation Master Plan, which is a collection of bold new ways to reinvigorate central Maitland, with a focus on heritage.
Council heritage officer Clare James said each pillar would be emblazoned with a short, punchy statement about an aspect of Maitland’s history.
A cavity in the pillar would frame a particularly significant object or site in the distance when a person looked through it as they would a viewfinder.
Ms James said the pillars would likely be set up on one of four proposed heritage walks, which would each focus on a different theme – heroes and villains, poverty and prosperity, architecture and the river speaks.
“Multiple placements of posts could be positioned to lead you to the next, as you look through the gap,” she said.
“They have the potential to be designed with ambient sound triggered by visitor movements – sounds typical of Maitland at different times in its history.
“The whistle of steamers, sounds of cargo being hauled from the river, sounds of water lapping.
“Materials [the pillars would be made of] are reminiscent of the natural timbers of the area.”
Ms James said residents had lodged some useful feedback on the Maitland Your Say website in response to the pillars and other ideas in the master plan.
“Stakeholders and groups who have an interest in the city centre and its heritage will be contacted by mail inviting comment on the proposal,” she said.
Visit www.maitlandyoursay.com.au to tell council what you think about the master plan, which is on public exhibition.
See tomorrow’s Mercury for the next instalment of our in-depth look into council’s plan.