Anzac Albany Project: Harbour Lights, Projections and Storytelling

Illuminart were commissioned to create a trail of Storytelling projections and a spectacular Harbour Lights ceremony for the centenary of the departure of the ANZAC troopships from Albany, held 30 Oct – 2nd Nov 2014.

The project involved producing and curating storytelling projections for six sites. Illuminart worked with local artists and organisations from the Albany region to write stories and create many elements of the show and the program. A highlight was the hour long audiovisual spectacular ( The Princess Royal Harbour Lights) that followed the official sunset ceremony, illuminating the Albany Entertainment Centre with a Son et Lumier, with pyrotechnic effects, flares and morse code by nearby Naval Vessels.

The storytelling projections at other sites combined local family stories about soldiers with historic photographs and archival video, into architectural projections onto the Town Hall, St John’s Church and other sites. The community partnership involved dozens of local people and was extended into another production that was presented in April 2015,  titled The Departure.

This commemorative event marked the departure of the  Over 28,000 troops departed from Albany for Europe and the Middle East, as well as 6,000 horses, many of whom never returned. For many of these souls, their last steps on Australian land was at Albany.

An incredibly important and emotional never to be repeated commemoration - planned, managed and implemented brilliantly - a very well deserved congratulations Albany and all those involved!

Southern WA Outdoors