The MiniMelbourne Project
Making Melbourne in Miniature
Hi! My name is Declan Mulcahy, and I'm raising money to help complete a scale model of Melbourne's CBD.
I started this project at the end of 2016, after it occurred to me that Melbourne's landmarks weren't getting enough love and recognition. When it comes to postcards, puzzles or even Lego sets, it seemed like Sydney's infamous emblems always get picked over our own unique buildings. So I decided to combine my love for my home city and my childhood obsession with building blocks to start on my own project.
I pulled apart my dusty old collection of Nanoblock landmarks to put together one of my favourite slices of Melbourne - the point where Swanston street crosses the river to become St Kilda Road. Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, St Paul's Cathedral and the Arts Centre were all miniaturised, and the MiniMelbourne Project began.
Since then, the mini city has grown and grown until it sits as it does today: stretching from City Road and the Arts Centre all the way up to Collins Street, bordered on either side by Queen and Exhibition Streets. Dozens of iconic landmarks and buildings have popped up along the way, but the project is far from over - and that's where you come in.
This project could go on forever (and I hope it does) but for this campaign I've set the goal of completing the Hoddle Grid, so the edges of MiniMelbourne will run along Spencer, La Trobe and Spring Streets, and extend down a little way into Southbank. This will add landmarks like the Rialto Towers, Parliament House and Melbourne Central, with dozens of towering skyscrapers in between.
This grand plan means making MiniMelbourne about four times larger than it is at the moment, which will take more Nanoblocks than I can afford. I've set a goal of $2000, which is what I estimate it'll take to finish the central CBD, and hope that my fellow Melbourne-lovers will be willing to help me finish this stage of the project. There are plenty of rewards available, from mini sketches of the city to your own Melbourne landmark constructed from Nanoblocks.
How The Funds Will Be Used
The entirety of my $2000 goal will go towards buying the Nanoblocks that serve as MiniMelbourne's building material. Unfortunately I currently have no wholesale option for acquiring these bricks, so have to buy individual sets at retail value. It's taken about $500 worth of Nanoblocks to piece together MiniMelbourne at its current size, and considering the expanded area and number of buildings I think it'll take approximately four times this to finish the Hoddle Grid.
If construction ends up being cheaper than expected, or I raise funds in excess of my goal, the money will go towards further building (either towards Docklands or the Sports Precinct) or towards arranging a public, free exhibition of the completed MiniMelbourne CBD.
You can also help support the growth of MiniMelbourne by donating any Nanoblocks that have been gathering dust like mine were before I started this project. Get in touch with me at mini.melbourne.3000@gmail.com if you've got some blocks to add to the city.
The Challenges
Building MiniMelbourne is challenging work! It's been quite time-consuming constructing this current segement, as I balance construction with work and study. Due to the massive size of the planned construction area, the biggest difficulty in going forward with this project is simply knowing how long it will take. I've set a tentative deadline of December 2017 for the completion of the Hoddle Grid, which will be about a year after I first started building. However as the amount of time I have to work on MiniMelbourne varies from week to week, it's possible that finishing the CBD will take longer than I anticipate.
That said, I will be prioritising delivering rewards to all my supporters if the goal is met, as I am incredibly appreciative of anyone who would be willing to support this passion project with their own money. Every reward category includes a subscription to the MiniMelbourne email newsletter, so you can keep updated on the project's progress as it forges onwards.
MiniMelbourne Newsletter
Join the MiniMelbourne mailing list! You'll receive regular email updates on the building process, and will be the first to know about exhibition details.
MiniMelbourne Photo
Receive a 4x6 colour photo of MiniMelbourne as it currently stands, with a personal thank you note scrawled on the back. Posts to Australian addresses only. You will also receive a newsletter subscription.
MiniMelbourne Walking Tour
Join the MiniMelbourne Walking Tour! With this reward you'll be part of an exclusive group walking tour of Melbourne with MiniMelbourne architect Declan. Informative, enjoyable and a little bit silly, this is a great way to celebrate Melbourne while supporting the project. Multiple date and route options will be available, and details will be organised via email. You will also receive a newsletter subscription.
MiniMelbourne Doodle
Receive a MiniMelbourne mini-sketch! With this reward you'll get a one-of-a-kind drawing of your favourite Melbourne landmark, barely bigger than a postage stamp. To personalise your drawing even more, you can add an optional caption or dedication to your image. Posts to Australian addresses only. You will also receive a newsletter subscription.
Request a MiniMelbourne landmark
With this reward you can request the addition of any local landmark to MiniMelbourne. As iconic parts of the city like the Shrine of Remembrance, the Bolte Bridge and the MCG are not currently planned, you can help make MiniMelbourne more Melbourne! Your addition will be displayed alongside the main construction and will bear your name as its benefactor. This reward is very limited as each landmark can only be added once, so get in fast! You will also receive a newsletter subscription.
Your own piece of MiniMelbourne
With this reward you'll receive your very own piece of MiniMelbourne! Request any Melbourne landmark and a Nanoblock construction in the original MiniMelbourne scale will be sent to you. Ships to Australian addresses only. You will also receive a newsletter subscription.