Dairy Road Lookout

A landmark of Molonglo’s Dairy Road development, Canberra, the Lookout is a large wooden structure reminiscent of the bird hides of the site’s neighbouring Jerrabomberra Wetlands Reserve. Set on a concrete plinth within reach of the wetland’s woodlands, swamps and marshland, its viewing window looks instead to the changing landscape at Dairy Road; toward people, rather than bird life. The structure’s precise positioning captures a glimpse of a site in flux, an acknowledgement of the intrigue of watching and the everyday beauty of the industrial.

We worked closely with Eifer Construction on the project, refining the jointing methods, materials and engineering. Built offsite, the frame was craned into position – a mass of complex wooden joints, all of the structure’s recycled timber is native Australian blackbutt.