Inside The Ghan train across Australia, new carriage interiors elevate a classic trip
The Ghan’s new carriage interiors designed by Woods Bagot reimagine modern rail travel for this epic trip between Darwin and Adelaide
The Ghan train – which makes the epic journey across Australia between Darwin and Adelaide, via Alice Springs – just got an upgrade courtesy of design studio Woods Bagot. Having already transformed The Ghan’s Platinum carriages in 2019, the service’s 90th anniversary year, Woods Bagot last year announced its commission by operating company Journey Beyond to reimagine the interiors of its Gold Premium carriages, including the cabins, lounge and restaurant. The completed redesign – seen here – is both sustainably minded and inventive, and fit for a new era of multi-day train travel for solo, duo and design-inclined travellers.
Discover The Ghan’s new cabins designed by Woods Bagot
To reflect Australia’s history and topography, rich reds and blooming burgundy hues were juxtaposed with walnut timber and polished brass detailing. With sustainability a key focus, Woods Bagot reused and uplifted existing joinery, furniture and materials across the carriages to cleverly repurpose existing assets, with construction wholly executed onsite at the home of The Ghan in Adelaide’s historic Churchill Yards.
New materials were selected for durability and longevity, while an approach to craft brought an authentic sensitivity to the design firm’s intention to support local industry. ‘Restoration and renewal is not only the more sustainable alternative for its reuse of existing materials; it also beautifully preserves the historical narrative of the project,’ explains Woods Bagot principal Rosina Di Maria.
As such, original, custom-made brass handles and fittings still in premium condition were reused, while original seats were reupholstered with Melbourne-based Willie Weston’s fabrics, championing the Aboriginal dot prints Durrmu ‘Terra’ by Kathleen Korda, whose ceremonial dot designs are found on cabin, lounge and restaurant seating, reflecting the Indigenous style of paintings of the Red Centre and the Traditional Owners of the Country.
The carriages’ historic pressed-metal ceilings were recreated by a local manufacturer in Adelaide, while in the lounge, hand-blown glass ‘Poke’ wall lights were made by artisans at Adelaide-based creative hub and design brand JamFactory (featured in Wallpaper’s 2021 Global Interiors round-up).
‘Rail is a nostalgic form of travel long associated with romance and wonder,’ Di Maria notes, adding, ‘Our design is deeply contextual, responding to the textures and topography of the Australian outback in the colours of Arrernte artist Albert Namatjira.’ The tones in Namatjira’s landscapes are referenced in flora motifs, such as the silvered ghost gums found on custom carpets made by Modieus.
On board, lounge seats convert to sleeping berths by night for the three-night journey, complete with turn-down service and nightcap, and an in-room coffee order service scheduled for sunrise viewing outside. In the lounge, Australia’s wines and native ingredients are championed in daily changing, regionally inspired menus of the two-course lunch and four-course dinners.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Off-board, all-inclusive activities support Indigenous operators and the National Parks they protect. Di Maria explains, ‘Rail has opened up access to communities and views that aren’t available to other forms of travel. The purpose of the redesign is to attract a wider demographic; to experience and connect with Country in a more intimate form than just flying over it.’
Monique Kawecki is a writer, editor and consultant based between Australia and Japan, specialising in travel, artisanal craftsmanship, architecture and design.
-
La Vie en Rose: can the Jaguar Type 00 reset the narrative surrounding the brand’s reinvention?
This is the Jaguar Type 00, the first physical manifestation of the reborn brand’s new commitment to ‘Exuberant Modernism’. We take it for a semiotic spin
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The RIBA House of the Year 2024 winner is a delightful work-in-progress
The winner of the RIBA House of the Year 2024 is Six Columns in South London - the home of architect and 31/44 studio co-founder William Burges
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Bold maximalism engulfs The Lafayette Hotel and Club in San Diego
The Lafayette Hotel and Club, designed by Post Company, brings together a rich tapestry of patterns, themes and colours
By Dan Howarth Published
-
The world's most enticing new hotel openings
Explore the best new hotels in the world, from Saltmoore, a chic country retreat in north England, to Palm House, a retro-inspired Florida hotel
By Nicola Leigh Stewart Published
-
Australian surf culture merges with the charm of the Mediterranean at Il Delfino
Il Delfino, designed by Sheree Commerford, is a restored 1940s seaside inn nestled on the Yamba coastline in Australia
By Amber Hunter Published
-
Layover in style at Melbourne Airport’s new hotel
Ibis Styles Melbourne Airport hotel by FK brings together elegant rooms, co-working lounges and leisure facilities in a striking aircraft wing-inspired design
By Daven Wu Published
-
Australian heritage meets European grandeur at Copperstone, a New South Wales retreat
Copperstone is New South Wales’ answer to the European country estate, and includes a five-bedroom retreat, set in 48 acres
By Jess Kelham-Hohler Published
-
Tap into local creativity at The StandardX, Melbourne
The StandardX, Melbourne is the first hotel in The Standard Group's new breed of ‘younger and rebellious’ properties
By Monique Kawecki Published
-
Discover Beau Sydney, an intimate two-part restaurant enlivening the city’s laneways
Beau Sydney dishes up contemporary Australian cuisine, from baked goods to regional wines, amid elegant interiors by Smart Design Studio
By Stephen Crafti Published
-
Sydney’s The Darling shows off its playful and sophisticated suites
The Darling in Sydney unveils its recently renovated suites by Fender Katsalidis, paying homage to the surrounding cityscape
By Tianna Williams Published
-
St Ali & The Queen elevates Melbourne’s coffee culture with modern brews and brutalism
St Ali & The Queen is a Fiona Lynch Office-designed café and cocktail bar in Melbourne’s revitalised Queen Victoria Market
By Sofia de la Cruz Published