A Project Showcase · Studio ESEM · 2026

Birds of Australia STORYBOX

Dr Sarah Barns · Studio ESEM × Australian Museum

A Blockbuster Touring initiative funded by Create NSW

“A beautifully crafted, highly innovative digital experience… sets a new benchmark for interpretive storytelling.”

Judges · Interpretation Australia 2025 National Awards, Winner

The Project

Birds of Australia STORYBOX brought to life the story of John and Elizabeth Gould.

A touring activation delivered by Studio ESEM on behalf of the Australian Museum. Since 2023, the program engaged diverse audiences ‘beyond the walls’ of the Museum, in public spaces across regional NSW.

Opening

Birds of Australia STORYBOX animated birdscape artwork

The Artwork

Each illustration animated and integrated into an interpretive storytelling response.

The Work

The Tour · Eight cities · Twenty-four months

The Tour

The Work, Briefly

A 12-min digital animation interpreted the Birds of Australia collection for new audiences.

This work built on the digitisation program led by the Australian Museum, making the Gould Birds of Australia illustrations available digitally in high resolution format.

Key themes: First Nations storytelling; the story of John & Elizabeth Gould in Australia; Bird Song & Creative Lives; Vulnerable Birds & Ecology.

A Blockbuster Touring initiative funded by Create NSW.

See it at the Australian Museum →

The Project

Community Launch

Springwood Community Launch, Blue Mountains, March 2025

Community Launch

Original Archives

Honouring First Scientists

Gould frequently credits his guides Natty and Jemmy in assisting his expeditions across NSW.

Gould’s original text from The Birds of Australia was animated alongside the illustrations, with First Nations names such as maali, mulgo and guunyu for the Black Swan.

Wiradjuri poet Janine Leane’s Black Swan imagines the way this bird confused and amazed Europeans when they first arrived in Australia.

Animated frame with Gould's text: My black companion Natty ascended the tree — Gould’s text: “My black companion Natty ascended the tree…”

Black Swan with its Noongar, Dharug and Yuin names — Black Swan · maali (Noongar), mulgo (Dharug), guunyu (Yuin)

Eastern Whipbird and Pied Currawong animated birdscape — Eastern Whipbird · Pied Currawong

The Archive

The Mobile Companion

A unique mobile interactive, created for the program.

Custom designed by Studio ESEM.

Audiences used their own mobile device to connect with the STORYBOX screens, colour-in original Gould illustrations and listen to distinct bird sounds. Updated at each location to highlight vulnerable birds specific to each touring location. Live at storybox.australian.museum.

Mobile

The Team

We are proud of what we as a creative collective achieved.

Australian Museum

Louise Teteris
Vanessa Finney
Elliot Cole

Studio ESEM

Sarah Barns
Michael Killalea
Leif Wilson
Peter Hird

Creative Team

Anna Fraser
Julian Burgess
Freya Berkhout
Rene Cristen
Sarie O'Brien
Tim Siggs
Alan Richardson

First Nations Contributors

Aunty Rhonda Radley
Dr John Heath
Prof Gawain Bodkin-Andrews
Frances Bodkin
Ray Timbery
Warren Ngarre Foster
Janine Leane
Brendon Blacklock (videography)

A Blockbuster Touring initiative funded by Create NSW

The Team

Community Engagement

A platform for community events and activations around NSW, developed through precinct partners.

Port Macquarie launch event — Port Macquarie launch

School group at the Port Macquarie launch — Schools at the Port Macquarie launch, 2024

Children's puppet-making workshop — Puppet-making workshops

STORYBOX on location in Orange — Orange, Civic Square

Community Life magazine cover, Orange — Community Life magazine, Orange, September 2024

Local press coverage in Orange — Local promotions, Orange

Community Engagement

On Location

Sharing significant museum collections through digital storytelling in novel locations.

The Tour

The Birds of Australia STORYBOX inside the Australian Museum at Members Night

At the Australian Museum

Members Night at the Australian Museum, June 2025.

The Museum

Aunty Rhonda Radley, Birpai Elder and Knowledge Keeper, interviewed for Birds of Australia STORYBOX

First Nations Storytelling

First Nations storytelling in dialogue with western science.

We worked with Aunty Rhonda Radley, Dr John Heath, Professor Gawain Bodkin-Andrews and Frances Bodkin, Ray Timbery, Warren Ngarre Foster, Brendon Blacklock and Janine Leane.

Interviews with selected First Nations Elders & knowledge custodians were created and shared online for Birds of Australia STORYBOX.

Interpretive Design

First Nations Collaborations

First Nations storytelling & engagement across the regions.

STORYBOX in Grafton with coastal emu artwork — Grafton · coastal emu artwork by Yaegl, Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr artists

Dance performance beside the STORYBOX at a launch program — Dance performance, launch program

Warren Ngarre Foster telling the story of the Pacific Black Duck — Warren Ngarre Foster · the Pacific Black Duck (Umbarra)

Interpretive Design

First Nations Dialogue

Interviews with First Nations Elders & knowledge custodians.

Story of Creation Lore, told by Ray Timbery

Interpretive Design

“

We just have to listen, and remember. Listening to birds can bring us so much joy, and reminds us that we all have a role to play in protecting them.

Aunty Rhonda Radley · Birpai Elder and Knowledge Keeper

Interpretive Design

Evaluation · Reach

Pedestrian counters captured 65,000 counts across regional NSW locations.

Passed by

65,000

Engaged (62% of passers-by)

~40,000

Engagement estimated by applying the survey rate (62% of passers-by reported some engagement) to pedestrian counts.

Part 03 · Evaluation

Evaluation · Survey Highlights

Exceptional outcomes in engaging & connecting with new audiences in public spaces.

88.9%overall satisfaction: 52.7% very satisfied + 36.2% satisfied

83.2%would recommend to others: 49.5% very likely + 33.7% likely

1.9%reported dissatisfaction, showing broad appeal across diverse audiences

72.1%of those who used the mobile experience believed it improved the overall work

25%of intentional visitors came to the city specifically for the installation

42.4%of intentional visitors stayed overnight, demonstrating tourism draw

303 unique survey responses · Newcastle, Orange and Port Macquarie

Part 03 · Evaluation

83.5% were ‘casual discoverers’, accessing via physical placement.

The strategic placement of programs in high-traffic public spaces generates positive reach outcomes for cultural institutions.

Survey assistants beside the STORYBOX in Port Macquarie — Survey assistants, Port Macquarie

Survey assistants with visitors at the STORYBOX in Newcastle — Survey assistants, Newcastle

Part 03 · Evaluation

Evaluation · In Their Words

“It made me think about conservation efforts and how important it is to protect bird habitats. I’m inspired to learn more about local bird species.”

“Very beautiful. We have been learning about birds with the kids at home. We have never heard of John Gould before. Will read up at home with the kids and work it into our home schooling program. We are on a property and there are so many great birds.”

Selected insights from community members surveyed for the Birds of Australia STORYBOX

Part 03 · Evaluation

Evaluation · Selected Comments

“It has reminded me of how beautiful Australian birds are and the need to protect and teach the younger ones.”

“A great educational tool. I am very impressed with the amount of research.”

“Fantastic! I love the birds and the stories. I’m a bird watcher so this is perfect for me.”

“I like that it weaves the first nations info into the pictures. It’s good for the kids because it is educational and keeps their attention.”

“I think about stories more now and how they connect to nature and our environment.”

“I think it’s a great idea and a good use of the space. I like the idea of being able to interact with it via mobile.”

Visitor surveys · Newcastle, Orange and Port Macquarie

Part 03 · Evaluation

Recognition

Awards.

Winner

Digital Design

Interpretation Australia National Awards

2025

Award Nominee

Events and Exhibitions

National Trust Heritage Awards

2026

“A beautifully crafted, highly innovative digital experience that reimagines the touring exhibition format with heart, creativity, and community at its core… With deep evaluation, responsive design, and a clear legacy, Birds of Australia Storybox sets a new benchmark for interpretive storytelling.”

Judges’ statement · Interpretation Australia 2025 National Awards

Awards

Thank you to all our collaborators and partners.

studioesem.com

Explore the project at the Australian Museum →

A Blockbuster Touring initiative funded by Create NSW

Birds of Australia STORYBOX