WA Museum Boola Bardip to show world-first immersive VR documentary of Kimberley region

Cutting edge virtual reality technology and Westworld star Luke Hemsworth have combined to showcase the Kimberley like never before in a new experience opening next week at WA Museum Boola Bardip.

Hemsworth, older brother to fellow Hollywood stars Chris and Liam, serves as narrator of The Great Kimberley Wilderness, a 35-minute immersive VR documentary from award-winning WA filmmaker Briege Whitehead’s White Spark Pictures.

However, Whitehead said the technology means Hemsworth is more than just a narrator, because viewers will feel like they are right next to him while he personally tours the region.

“Luke very much ... is kind of the audience’s guiding companion the whole way through,” she said.

I call it story-living, rather than the storytelling.

In a custom-built gallery, with 7.1 surround sound and large-scale digital projections across all wall surfaces, audiences will have a 360-degree view of some of the planet’s most ancient landscapes in this guided tour of places that few outside the Traditional Owners have ever seen.

“There are so many locations I know, or as far as we’ve been told, that we’re the first people to capture them on camera,” Whitehead said.

Viewers will be transported over the edge of towering waterfalls, cross stunning coastlines and wonder at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park, all from the comfort of their seat.

Whitehead worked with the Traditional Owners as well as scientists to ensure the jaw-dropping cinematography also had considerable cultural and educational value.

Using patented technology with Dolby Atmos sound, and shot in 8K using drones capable of capturing 3D footage, the film is “unprecedented”, according to Whitehead.

“I call it story-living, rather than the storytelling,” she said.

“That’s what the ability of 360-degrees in a VR headset provides, because, everywhere you look, it’s like you’re literally standing there, or flying over the waterfalls or hanging out of the helicopter with Luke next to you.”

The film will screen across four of the museum’s public sites, which also includes the Museum of the Great Southern, the Museum of Geraldton and the Museum of the Goldfields, before seasons at the National Museum of Australia from December and Tamaki Paenga Auckland War Memorial Museum next year.

Only the season at WA Museum Boola Bardip will feature the custom-built gallery experience.

The hope is the film will then travel even further afield, as a great showcase of WA.

“Our passion lies in sharing significant West Australian stories with local, national and global audiences,” WA Museum chief executive Alec Coles said.

“Many people will never have the opportunity to visit the Kimberley, so this will give them a chance to experience one of the world’s greatest natural and cultural treasures.”

The Great Kimberley Wilderness runs from November 23 to April 28.