The Shire of Boddington’s approach to signage has been very ad-hoc over the years with no overall planning to the design and placement of signage. Signage has been deployed on an individual basis which has resulted in a mix of different sign types, sizes and placement. The overall effect is a multitude of different signs competing for the visitors attention. The Shire now wishes to develop a strategy that will provide guidelines for all future signage planning and application.

Tourism signage is an extremely important element of any destination’s branding, marketing and visitor information strategies. Signage is critically important to presenting a consistent tourism experience and to retaining and dispersing visitors throughout the Shire. Signage also provides opportunities to raise awareness of the area’s attractions and features and encourage people to stop and visit.

Tourism signage consultancy Wayfound was commissioned by the Shire of Boddington to develop a whole of destination integrated tourism wayfinding and signage strategy (the Strategy). The purpose of the Strategy is to ensure that current and future signage facilitates safe and positive journeys and enhances the dispersal of visitors and their connection with the people and the places of the Shire of Boddington. 

The existing tourism related signage in the Shire of Boddington does not enhance the visitor experience or adequately direct visitors to the area’s many attractions. Business and tourism organisations along with business operators have requested that Council develop a strategy to address this, with some of their concerns being: 

• Lack of wayfinding and tourism signage to let visitors know the attractions, services and facilities available within the Shire of Boddington and it’s towns and villages. 
• Lack of unique and distinctive signage and imagery that showcases the Shire of Boddington’s tourism experiences and entices visitors to stop, explore and stay longer. 

This Strategy forms part of a suite of initiatives by Shire to encourage visitors to stop, extend their length of stay and increase expenditure in the SBO.