Birds of Australia STORYBOX
SERVICES
YEAR
Research & Narrative Design
Community Engagement
Creative Direction
Technical Installation & Touring
Digital Design
2022-2025
CLIENT
The Australian Museum
DESCRIPTION
A touring exhibition commissioned by the Australian Museum and sponsored by Create NSW.
Inspired by the work of John and Elizabeth Gould, The Birds of Australia STORYBOX brings 19th century illustrations into dialogue with First Nations storytellers and regional communities to expand environmental awareness.
“The STORYBOX experience is a kind of slow wow. It sort of creeps up on you. It's subtle, it's gentle, and it's effective.”
TT
Tim Low, Where Song Began
A major touring exhibition commissioned by the Australian Museum with support from Create NSW.
Studio ESEM was commissioned by the Australian Museum to create a unique digital touring experience that connected audiences with the unique nineteenth century illustrations of John and Elizabeth Gould.
Using the STORYBOX digital cube, we delivered a multi-layered digital interpretation and touring experience in partnership with the Australian Museum. The program has toured over 10 different regional locations across regional NSW since 2023.
In November 2025 Birds of Australia STORYBOX was awarded the national Digital Interpretation Award at the 2025 Interpretation Australia Awards.
Development Approach
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Narrative Design & Research
The project is informed by deep research into the Goulds’ iconic expedition, and its enduring legacy as a foundational work of Australian ornithology. We advocated for a contemporary reinterpretation of the Gould story through the lens of decolonisation, and for a focus on the vulnerable status of Australia’s birdlife today. Together, this research & concept design shaped a unique narrative lens through which to engage and bring to life the Gould illustrations.
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Creative Direction & Design
Studio ESEM led a multi-disciplinary creative team to realise our vision for a creative immersive experience on the digital cube. A 12min audio-visual piece was written and researched by Sarah Barns, with creative direction by Michael Killalea. Julian Burgess was appointed as lead animator and Anna Fraser as Design Director. Freya Berkhout was appointed our lead composer.
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First Nations Engagement
We worked with a number of First Nations knowledge custodians and storytellers across NSW to bring their stories and perspectives into dialogue with the work of John and Elizabeth Gould through a ‘many ways’ science perspective. This shaped the core digital experience and engagement throughout the touring program.
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Technical Direction & Logistics
Studio ESEM managed a 2-year touring program which saw the digital STORYBOX cube tour to nine destinations across regional NSW, reaching new and diverse audiences via regional touring partners, including local museums and galleries. The touring program is continuing into 2025 and 2026.
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Digital Design & Engagement
We developed a unique mobile storytelling and engagement experience for the STORYBOX that invited audiences to connect with the birds, colour in Gould’s illustrations and learn more about unique habitat challenges. We commissioned our mobile partner Socketumi to deliver the software for the project.
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Evaluation
Studio ESEM designed and delivered a custom evaluation program that linked quantitative reach data with qualitative survey insights, ensuring the program evolved and adapted to audience needs and inputs. During the touring program we spoke to over 350 people in relation to the project, and identified a reach of over 60,000 people across regional destinations.
Enlivening the work of John & Elizabeth Gould
Creating Birds of Australia STORYBOX was a chance to revisit this iconic collection of nineteenth century illustrations, and bring them into dialogue with contemporary communities. This was both a digital and a curatorial program, requiring deep research into collections and stories about the Goulds, their journey to NSW in the early years of the British colony, and the many insights they gathered about Australia’s unique bird life.
Touring the Birds of Australia STORYBOX program was also an opportunity to reflect on the role of Australia’s unique birdlife in Australian communities today. Following the Covid-19 lockdowns, many Australians had learned to pay a little more attention to the many ways that Australia’s birds shape experiences of different places through their iconic bird song.
The work of Tim Low, author of Where Song Began, was a major inspiration for our creative production. This book highlights the important evolutionary role played by Australia’s birds and their unique songs. Reflecting this theme, we collaborated with musician and composer Freya Berkhout to create a unique musical soundscape inspired by many of the birds featured in the program. We avoided use of bird calls in the exhibition due to its display in outdoor locations, which could cause confusion for live birds in the area.
Learn more about our STORYBOX, the digital cube that takes exhibitions on the road. Visit STORYBOX.CO
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The project built on the Australian Museums digitalisation project of its unique collection of Gould illustrations
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![Narrative text design]()
Narrative by Dr. Sarah Barns focused on creating a sense of wonder at the unique nature of Australia's birds.
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Gould's illustration of a Swift Parrot animated by Jules Burgess, with close attention to the behaviours of birds.
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Community Activations enhanced the touring experience, sponsored by local touring partners and creating an engaging experience for local audiences. Image: Port Macquarie Hastings Council
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The custom mobile experience invited audiences to discover local habitat stories and conservation issues, utilising the Goulds' beautiful nineteenth century illustrations to highlight the need for habitat protection.
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First Nations Storytelling prioritised Indigenous knowledge and caring for birds as kin. Image: Aunty Rhonda Anjikurri Rhadley (Birpai/Dunghutti).
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Local activation programs developed by touring partners create space for community collaboration and learning programs with students and regional audiences
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The digital STORYBOX cube is a robust and resilient digital touring asset that supports public engagement across outdoor destinations, public spaces and even national parks. Created in 2020 by Studio ESEM.
