Signage has gone digital in Gilgandra – with the latest installation of an ongoing project almost complete.

Gilgandra Shire’s Region Signage Project has evolved over the last few years, starting in 2020 when a Shire Signage survey was conducted in the community. There were 221 respondents and 88 comments, all offering ideas about how the new signs should look.

At the time, Marketing & Communications Manager, Kathryn Larkin says the desired outcome was to promote Gilgandra and the local villages, Armatree and Tooraweenah.

“We are currently seeing an increase in regional travellers and by providing a welcoming, vibrant and unique entry to our region, we are attracting visitors and promoting our town in a way that is reflective of our community spirit,” she said. “The designs have been developed to complement one another while touching on each of the elements in the Gilgandra Cultural Strategic plan of Military History; Farming & Natural Landscape; and Aboriginal Heritage, as well as, importantly, the feedback from our community.”

“We are excited to be presenting the designs to the community and look forward to seeing them in place, believing they will truly make a positive impression.”

Community feedback confirmed that making the region attractive to tourist was important.

After the consultation, many new signs sprang up around the shire -

• 2 x new major town entry feature signs at the Southern and Northern Entrances to the Gilgandra township on the Newell Highway
• 2 x new minor town entry signs on Castlereagh and Oxley Highway entrances, smaller versions of the major town entry signs
• 4 x village entry signs, which are smaller versions of the town entry feature signs at Armatree (2) and Tooraweenah (2) with design elements specific to the villages
• 6 x Gilgandra Shire entry signs which replaced the existing timber routed signs
• 2 x super site Gilgandra Region signs on northern and southern Newell Highway approaches
• 8 x tourist messaging signs – replacing out of date promotional signage

Mayor, Doug Batten said the signs were a welcome addition that are unique to the region.

“These town entry pieces will capture the spirit of Gilgandra Shire with individual elements that reflect the local character of our township and our villages,” he said. “We believe this project will have real impact in terms of residents’ pride, showcasing to visitors the aesthetics of our beautiful home, welcoming travellers to come and visit!”

At a recent Gilgandra Shire Council meeting, an offshoot of the project was discussed - the community digital signage project with funding already in place.

The contract has been awarded to Armsign, and they will design and install one pedestrian, and one town entry full-colour interchangeable LED digital installations. Amsign are familiar with the western plains, having completed the fit out of the Coonamble Information and Exhibition Centre in 2022.

Gilgandra's new digital signs will be available for local community groups to provide information, events, news and attractions. The aim is to improve Gilgandra Shire’s visitor economy and community pride and offers more people the opportunity to attend and socialise at events.

Council has received the first concept designs for the signs, which were presented to the Economic Development Committee on the 27 February 2024.

The location of the pedestrian sign will be placed within the Gilgandra Community Plaza with investigations ongoing as to the exact location. The other sign will be alongside the recently updated Welcome to Gilgandra sign.