Landsborough Main Street Revitalisation: Driving Regional Identity through Creative Infrastructure

Placemaking Urban Design

Regional town centres frequently encounter the challenge of generic urban design that fails to resonate with specific local histories. For the Cribb Street precinct, the Sunshine Coast Council required a strategic revitalisation that could express the unique timber and rail heritage of Landsborough while fostering community pride. POMO was engaged as the creative implementation specialist to bridge the gap between high-level master planning and the fine-grain delivery of bespoke landscape elements.

Our specific mandate was to translate the deep historical character of the town into a “sticky” destination that rewards exploration and disrupts standard transit patterns. By embedding authentic local stories into the physical fabric of the street, we ensured the project moved beyond mere aesthetic upgrades to become a functional piece of creative urban infrastructure.

The Collaboration

This project was executed through a successful multi-firm collaboration with lead engagement specialists Co-Design and the Sunshine Coast Council. POMO maintained a strategic thread from the initial community workshops through to the technical documentation and final installation of all interpretive elements.

Delivering Cribb Street, Landsborough: The Implementation Process

POMO managed the transition from cultural research to durable urban outcomes by focusing on the technical requirements of regional placemaking. Our implementation process included:

  • Cultural Interpretation and Place Language: We undertook deep historical research to unlock hidden narratives, establishing the core components of a visual language authentic to the character of Landsborough.
  • Bespoke Engineering and Technical Detailing: The project required the design of interpretive design solutions that are technically certified and structurally sound to meet RPEQ requirements.
  • Fabrication Management and Local Delivery: POMO supervised all aspects of building and installation, collaborating with regional makers and tradespeople to ensure the final elements withstand the regional environment while supporting the local economy.
  • Integrated Digital and Physical Wayfinding: We delivered a bespoke wayfinding system integrated with Soundtrails, creating a geo-locative audio experience activated by physical signage. This integration of digital and physical layers was key to establishing the town as a premium cultural destination.

The Impact: A Unique Regional Attraction

The result is a highly differentiated streetscape that has transformed the local pedestrian experience and provided measurable social value. By expressing the uniqueness of the town through bespoke creative elements, the project has turned Cribb Street into an authentic attraction that celebrates the heritage of the Sunshine Coast. This project stands as a benchmark for how regional revitalisation can bridge the implementation gap to deliver high-quality, durable public places.

Partner with the Implementation Authorities

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Sustainability Outcomes

Social Sustainability Outcomes

  • Strengthened Local History and Identity: The project is deeply rooted in expressing the town’s rich heritage. By conducting detailed historical research and creating a “visual language” for the town, the design elements are authentic and meaningful. The development of a walkable heritage trail with a geo-locative audio experience (Soundtrail) makes this history interactive and accessible to all, reinforcing community identity and pride.
  • High Level of Community Ownership: The project’s foundation was an extensive community and stakeholder engagement process. This collaborative, co-design approach ensures the final streetscape is a direct reflection of the community’s aspirations and values, leading to a profound sense of ownership and care for the new public space.
  • Increased Community Activation and Connection: The design creates a new central gathering space with features like seating, shelters, a play area, and a lawn for events. This physical infrastructure is designed to encourage community activation, providing a versatile hub for residents to come together, socialize, and hold events, thereby strengthening the social fabric of the town.
  • Improved Accessibility and Safety: The master plan emphasizes better pedestrian and cyclist connections, improved wayfinding, and creative lighting. These elements make the town centre safer, more accessible, and easier to navigate for people of all ages and abilities, encouraging more people to use the space, especially into the evening.

Environmental Sustainability Outcomes

  • Enhanced Urban Canopy and Green Space: A key feature of the revitalisation is the addition of more shade trees and a central lawn area. This increases the urban canopy, which helps to cool the streetscape, improve air quality, manage stormwater, and create a more comfortable and visually appealing environment for the community.
  • Promotion of Active Transport: By improving the pathways for pedestrians and cyclists and creating a more attractive and walkable town centre, the project encourages a shift away from short car trips. This promotes a healthier lifestyle for residents and contributes to reducing local traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
  • Locally Inspired and Resilient Design: The design’s “pods,” which provide shade and lighting, are inspired by the region’s Bunya nut trees. This use of “biomimicry” not only connects the design to the local ecology but also suggests a design that is adapted to its environment, potentially offering durable and efficient solutions for shade and lighting.

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