The popular children’s program Bluey is set to have its own tourist attraction in Brisbane.
The animated show is produced and set in Brisbane and follows the adventures of a blue heeler dog and her family.
The ABC program streams to 60 countries worldwide and has become an Emmy award-winning phenomenon.
Andrew Kay is the producer of the show’s theatre production, and described it as a “huge undertaking.”
“Bluey’s World is twice as big as any other immersive experience that’s ever been in Australia,” Mr Kay said.
“It tries to create a world in which the children and families can actually experience the whole Bluey world, including the house, the backyard, the creek, and then there’s a whole playground.
“There’s the party rooms. It’s an amazing experience, and we have three designers working on it constantly.”
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said it will be a boost to Queensland’s tourism economy.
“It’s a huge opportunity for our tourism industry to shine and bring to life the great Queensland lifestyle that Bluey Heeler and her family show to the world already,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“Tourism and Events Queensland estimate that Bluey’s World will generate more than $18 million for the visitor economy and support 250 good Queensland jobs.”
“Bluey’s World, with its soundscape interactive play features and guided experiences, will be like being in a Bluey episode.”
Set to open next year
BBC Studios general manager ANZ Fiona Lang said the experience will showcase Bluey’s home town.
“As we unfold this exciting news about Bluey I want us all here today to reflect on the fact that shared experience, that joy sparked by Bluey, it started here,” she said.
“It started in Bluey’s hometown, Brisbane, Queensland, it was from Brisbane, Queensland, that we then took Australia by storm, and then the rest of the world.”
The immersive life-size Bluey’s World will be built on a 4,000-square-metre site at Northshore Pavilion at Hamilton and will be open to the public in August 2024.
It’s backed by BBC Studios and HVK productions with funding from the Queensland government and Brisbane City Council.