Around 1,500 Lego enthusiasts attended the ninth Empak Homes BrickGambier event over the long weekend, held at the Mount Gambier Show Hall. This popular exhibition featured over 50 exhibitors from regions including South East Australia, Adelaide, Tasmania, and even as far away as Perth. Attendees enjoyed a diverse range of Lego displays, showcasing themes such as Harry Potter, space exploration, mosaics, trains, a drive-in movie, the medieval era, and robotics.
The event was organized by the Limestone Coast Lego Users Group under the auspices of Adelaide’s Southern Bricks Lego Users Group. Interactive play tables, a photo booth, and a sensory-friendly session on Monday morning contributed to the vibrant atmosphere of the exhibition.
One of the standout attractions was a stunning Lego wedding dress created by Veronica Young from Geelong. This intricate piece was displayed at the Masterpiece Gallery in LEGO House in Denmark in March 2023 and was also worn by Fleur Watkins, a contestant from the third season of Lego Masters, at Brickvention. Young expressed her surprise at being selected as one of only 15 global exhibitors and the first Australian female to be featured at such a prestigious event.
“I have done half dresses before so I got a whole heap of pieces and made a nice shape which started at the back so the piece at the base of the spine is the start of it and I just worked out from there,” Young explained. “It took six months to build mainly because I am a perfectionist and wanted the straight line in the middle and the back. It created a bit of a hoo-hah.”
In addition to the impressive displays, the event included a new school building competition that attracted participation from 14 schools across the South East, up to Bordertown. Each school conducted its own competition, with prizes such as passes and medals provided by BrickGambier. Winning entries were displayed at the exhibition, and an overall champion was selected by the exhibitors.
Emma Robinson, the event organizer, emphasized the importance of encouraging creativity among young people. “For us, it is more about encouraging the young people to have that build and creativity and be able to show that in Lego,” Robinson said, adding that it would be wonderful if some students aspired to create their own exhibits for future BrickGambier events.
This year’s exhibition also featured a collaborative display titled the Michael Smith Memory Lane, which highlighted police Lego designs from 1958 to the present day. The Empak Homes BrickGambier exhibitor auction on Saturday night raised nearly $1,500 for the Mount Gambier Royal Flying Doctors Support Group. Attendees actively participated by purchasing raffle tickets, contributing to the weekend’s fundraising efforts.
Looking ahead, Robinson indicated that next year’s event will incorporate special elements to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this much-loved exhibition, promising even more excitement for Lego fans. The success of this year’s event underscores the enduring appeal of Lego and the community spirit it fosters among both exhibitors and attendees.
