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Virtual Experience Centre

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

As a significant infrastructure project in an urban setting, Cross River Rail offers exciting opportunities for students to see first-hand the changing environment and to engage with a contemporary archaeological investigation.

Throughout the project, Cross River Rail has been working closely with a team of archaeologists to better understand Brisbane’s history and to explore what life was like over 100 years ago. So far on the Cross River Rail project, we have conducted archaeological digs at Boggo Road, Woolloongabba, Albert Street, and Victoria Park, uncovering evidence of early Brisbane’s international trade, local business and Chinese settlement. Our education program incorporates these finds into engaging activities to bring history to life.

There are two key groupings of archaeological investigation for Cross River Rail: Indigenous and non-Indigenous investigations. The learning activities we currently offer at the Experience Centre focus on non-Indigenous history and archaeological investigation.

The education program also includes collaborative activities to enhance students’ geographical knowledge of Brisbane, and provides ample opportunities to consider geographical concepts including place, interconnections and sustainability.

LEARNING EXPERIENCES

LEARNING EXPERIENCE	TOPIC	YEAR LEVELS	DURATION	OVERVIEW
Maiwar Life	Deep Time	4 to 7	30 mins	Through a digital world, visit our station locations as they were in 1819, exploring the geology, environment, stories and traditions. Walk through the native bushlands that covered the area that is now Brisbane CBD, wander the banks of the Brisbane River, learning about the native animals and plants found in the area and interact with the First Nations people who inhabit the lands.
1819 Welcome Dance	Deep time	P to 12	5 mins	In collaboration with Bilbie Labs, we have brought Virtual Maiwar to life. In our Reality Theatre, explore this virtual world where we can pay respect to the stories, traditions, and customs of Brisbane’s Traditional Owners.
Time Hop	History	3 to 12	15 mins	Time Hop through Brisbane’s past in our Reality Theatre and examine the changing city and its transport network.
Archaeology Field Book	Archaeology	5 to 8	30 mins	Challenge yourself as a budding archaeologist by finding answers to questions about the Cross River Rail archaeology.
Intro to Archaeology	Archaeology	5 to 9	15 mins	Unlock Brisbane’s hidden past through a presentation by one of Cross River Rail’s subject matter experts.
Early Years Program	Community	Prep to 2	30 mins	Engage younger students through a tailored set of resources including Lego videos explaining archaeology and tunnel boring, hands-on materials and related worksheets.
Future Traveller Passport	Transport	5 to 9	30 mins	This generalist inquiry-based activity offers a range of diverse, interactive challenges applying the context of Cross River Rail to history and design challenges.

Find out more about our curriculum aligned programs.