Designed by Woods Bagot, Journey Beyond ‘Gold Premium’ references the richness of Australian culture. The overhaul of the carriages respects the legacy of Australia’s most iconic railways whilst reinvigorating the locomotive with a contemporary expression.

The carriages convey the beauty and romance long associated with slow travel, with a design response that is deeply contextual to the history and topography of Australia. The carriages restore the glamour of transcontinental travel - capturing a genuine sense of place.

Cross-country rail has long been a part of Australian travel, tracing back to the nineteenth century. The design captures the old-world elegance of rail travel with homage to the original art deco period and a recreation of cherished original details.

The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Great Southern are an integral part of Australia’s tourism story and the journeys are designed to forge a greater connection to country for guests. The design story extends this connection into the interior design, contributing to the sense of place throughout the journey.

The design narrative blends history and extends to reference the lands across which the train travels, and the people who live on it.   Woods Bagot were inspired by First Nations artist Albert Namatjira (1902-1959) and his celebrated paintings that capture the landscape the train travels through. The palette responds to Namatjira’s works, from the silver ghost gums to the red earth tones.

Aboriginal prints are showcased in the upholstery, with Durrmu “Terra” by Kathleen Korda – a ceremonial dot paint design. JamFactory “Poke” wall lights in freeform blown glass were custom-made and celebrate the craftsmanship of local South Australian artists. Natural stone with dramatic veining evokes the topography of the outback, while custom carpet by Modieus references the leaves of the silvered ghost gums. The historic pressed metal ceiling was recreated by local manufacturer Adelaide Pressed Metal in a gold finish.

Designing for a moving locomotive, required creative thinking to ensure a practical and enduring response. The design team navigated challenges of motion alongside a compact footprint - while including comprehensive amenity to cater to users over their multi-day journey. With a sustainability focus, Woods Bagot worked masterfully to reuse and uplift existing joinery, furniture and materials across the carriages. Additionally, materials and detailing were measured against a criterion of robustness and durability for longevity.

The specificity of the project required an innovative approach, with the team producing a prototype carriage before its subsequent rollout across the fleet. The prototyping process required a return to craft approach with the construction occurring wholly onsite at the historic Adelaide railyard.