IMMERSIVE XPERIENCES
Reimagining the WWII Darwin Tunnels
The World War II Darwin Tunnels have undergone a significant evolution from a traditional heritage site into an immersive, technology-enabled WWII tourism experience, supported by military tourism and export development funding thanks to the Northern Territory Government. The WWII Tunnels has been an export grant recipient taking the stories of service and sacrificie to Singapore between 2022-2024 and continues to be a popular destination for families, and military enthuisasts alike. Summary of improvements
1. Augmented Reality (AR) Experience
Augmented Reality (AR) Experience
Australia’s first underground WWII Augmented Reality experience was launched at the Tunnels in June 2023.
The AR overlays features animated characters including the "Darwin Digger", historical reconstructions, and interpretive storytelling directly onto the original tunnel infrastructure.
The experience centres on the AADFA Man character, a re-imagining of the existing sculpture, who acts as a digital narrator guiding visitors through Darwin’s wartime history.
2. Comic Book Development
The Darwin Digger comic book was created and launched in November 2023 as an extension of the AR experience.
The comic introduces the character Howard Hawk, a Civil Construction Corps worker in the tunnels whose story connects directly to the site’s history.
QR codes embedded in the comic activate AR content, including character backstories, WWII artefacts, and animated sequences.
The comic launched locally at Tropicon (Darwin) and internationally at Singapore Comic Con, positioning the tunnels within a global cultural and youth-focused market.
A seocnd edition of the Darwin Digger "The Thunder from Downunder" was released at the Battlebox Singapore's own underground war museum in 2024.
QR codes embedded in the comic activate AR content, including character backstories, WWII artefacts, and animated sequences.
Comic Book Development – The Darwin Digger
3. See the Light – A Thread Through Time
A short-form AI-assisted documentary experience (approx. 10 minutes) has been developed to provide contextual orientation for visitors and launced part of the Darwin Fringe Festival in July 2024.
The documentary forms part of the immersive interpretation layer, complementing AR and physical exhibits rather than replacing traditional storytelling including a lighting display in Tunnel No. 6
AI-Immersive experience and light display
1. Augmented Reality (AR) Experience
2. Comic Book Development
3. See the Light – A Thread Through Time
Augmented Reality (AR) Experience
Australia’s first underground WWII Augmented Reality experience was launched at the Tunnels in June 2023.
The AR overlays features animated characters including the "Darwin Digger", historical reconstructions, and interpretive storytelling directly onto the original tunnel infrastructure.
The experience centres on the AADFA Man character, a re-imagining of the existing sculpture, who acts as a digital narrator guiding visitors through Darwin’s wartime history.
The Darwin Digger comic book was created and launched in November 2023 as an extension of the AR experience.
The comic introduces the character Howard Hawk, a Civil Construction Corps worker in the tunnels whose story connects directly to the site’s history.
QR codes embedded in the comic activate AR content, including character backstories, WWII artefacts, and animated sequences.
The comic launched locally at Tropicon (Darwin) and internationally at Singapore Comic Con, positioning the tunnels within a global cultural and youth-focused market.
A seocnd edition of the Darwin Digger "The Thunder from Downunder" was released at the Battlebox Singapore's own underground war museum in 2024.
QR codes embedded in the comic activate AR content, including character backstories, WWII artefacts, and animated sequences.
Comic Book Development – The Darwin Digger
A short-form AI-assisted documentary experience (approx. 10 minutes) has been developed to provide contextual orientation for visitors and launched part of the Darwin Fringe Festival in July 2024.
The documentary forms part of the immersive interpretation layer, complementing AR and physical exhibits rather than replacing traditional storytelling including a lighting display in Tunnel No. 6
See the Light – A Thread Through Time” AI-Immersive experience and light display
See the Light — A Living WWII Experience Beneath Darwin
See the Light is an immersive museum experience embedded within the World War II Tunnels, Darwin, inviting visitors to walk through history along a symbolic thread of light that cuts through the darkness of the original underground oil storage tunnels. Using Augmented Reality (AR), original comic storytelling, and AI-assisted documentary content, See the Light reveals Australia’s wartime stories as living memory rather than static display.
As visitors move through the tunnels, the experience illuminates moments from World War II — from the Bombing of Darwin to the Allied presence in the Pacific — bringing voices, characters, and events into the present without disturbing the heritage fabric of the site.
At the heart of the experience is a beam of light: a metaphor for resilience, remembrance, and shared history. It guides visitors through the tunnels while connecting physical space with digital storytelling, including the AADFA Man AR experience, The Darwin Digger comic narrative, and a short-form AI documentary that provides historical context and emotional grounding.