By Schreder
Mindil Beach Sunset Market, Darwin’s largest market, is famous for its stunning sunsets over the Timor Sea. Since 1987, it has grown organically from a small market to 200 unique stalls, offering everything from incredible local and international cuisine to a range of arts, crafts and services and live entertainment.
Open from 4pm to 9pm from April to October, the markets are popular with locals and tourists, attracting over 400,000 visitors a year. An engine for the local economy, the market supports over 300 small businesses and provides employment for over 1,000 local people. The local authorities are keen to ensure that the facilities meet the needs of the stallholders and visitors.
In 2023, as part of the Making Mindil Safe campaign, the local council decided to upgrade the infrastructure to create a high-quality public realm that would meet the expectations of the community today and for many years to come. The local authorities wanted the latest technology to ensure a great visitor experience while respecting this unique heritage setting.
Enhancing the visitor experience
New lighting was required as the existing fixtures had deteriorated and were no longer providing the required levels to ensure safety. They also wanted CCTV to reinforce the sense of security and loudspeakers to broadcast music and announcements during the markets and other events that take place on the site.
Free WIFI had been available in certain areas of the market for a number of years as part of the Northern Territory Government’s roll-out on tourist sites. They wanted to extend the coverage to the whole market for a better surfing experience.
All of these features require cabling, and the local authorities were very sensitive to the fact that the market was on sacred Aboriginal land and that they needed to respect the site.
A high-quality public realm on a sacred site
As the market is located on an ancient Aboriginal burial ground, the Aboriginal Sacred Sites Authority have put in place protocols for working in the area. There is a limit to the depth of any excavations that can be made, so essential services have to be installed on or above the ground rather than buried underneath.
An extremely versatile solution was needed. The SHUFFLE smart pole was ideal.
Bringing in the community
To address concerns, the Larrakia People were consulted and the local authorities engaged in an open dialogue about how this heritage site could be redeveloped into a more sustainable, community-focused space that would contribute to the broader social, cultural and economic resilience of the region.
Technology for people, nature and heritage
A total of 55 SHUFFLE smart poles have been installed throughout the market and the access roads.
The SHUFFLE poles integrate both 360° and 180° lighting modules, with specific optics to direct the light to the ground, allowing people to easily navigate this redeveloped public space after sunset while protecting the dark sky.
They deliver a bright white light that creates a welcoming atmosphere for visitors to eat, browse, shop and socialise into the late hours. During the late hours, the lighting has the capacity to be dimmed to save energy and protect the flora and fauna of this coastal landscape.
The SHUFFLE provides a reliable and secure infrastructure to house the 5G wireless backhaul access points, eliminating the need to lay fibre cables in the ground and therefore any unnecessary digging in this sacred site. They provide the bandwidth and quality of service for a perfect surfing experience, allowing visitors to share those special moments immediately.
CCTV and loudspeakers are discreetly integrated into the poles, enhancing a sense of security and the visitor experience with an elegant design. The CCTV and digital audio applications are also connected via the wireless backhaul.
By incorporating all of these functions into a refined pole, the local authorities were assured that visitors to the market would still enjoy easily accessible open spaces to move around.
A lively place even when the markets are closed
While the market runs from April to October, the park where it is held is open all year round. Less than 3km from Darwin’s city centre and running along the coast, it remains a popular destination for other community events such as fun runs and festivals, as well as families and friends who just want to get together and enjoy the facilities.
The improved visibility means the park and its facilities can be used all year round. This is particularly important for vulnerable groups such as the young and elderly, allowing them to stay longer and enjoy the stunning sunsets over the Timor Sea.
A scalable, sustainable and futureproof solution
The versatility of the SHUFFLE smart pole has enabled the local authorities to harness the latest technologies to achieve their goals of providing a safer and more engaging experience for traders, visitors and staff.
It also provides a futureproof system that can be easily upgraded in the coming years, enabling the market to respond to the needs of the people who work and visit it. An electric bike charger to promote soft mobility, power sockets for food vans, an intercom to speak with emergency services or a light ring are just a few of the features that could be added.
We were delighted to work with all the stakeholders on this project to create a safe and engaging nighttime setting that enhances the experience for traders and visitors while respecting the heritage of this sacred Aboriginal land.
