Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Park

From sugar cane and timber mills to mountain bikes — Finch Hatton’s legacy of industry has been transformed into a major adventure tourism destination in Queensland. Regeneration initiatives have seen the development of the Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Park, boasting 100 km of world-class trails. Attracting 5,000 international and 31,000 domestic visitors each year, the park is playing a key role in revitalising the township and the wider Pioneer Valley, breathing new life into the region’s economy and community.

Arrival and information wayfinding at Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Park
There are 100km of world-class trails
Simple directional wayfinding messaging for mountain bikers

Wayfinding design is both reflective and interpretative, reinforcing the site’s character while clearly marking its own moment in time. Drawing from the region’s sugar industry heritage, most notably the iconic sugarcane bins with their angled steel bracing, it adopts a visual language of modular graphic plates mounted within exposed steel frames over metal mesh panels. The result creates a bold and spirited identity that is distinctive, expressive, and deeply connected to the site’s industrial past.

Wayfinding design references include the old sugar cane bins with their angles steel bracing
The form of the wayfinding takes cues from local and historic design inspiration, seen here in the metal cross bars
Trails are categorised by their difficulty allowing users to make informed decisions

Wayfinding and interpretation invites visitors to discover the rich history of the Cattle Creek Mill, highlighting the enduring significance of the site. Through storytelling, it weaves together heritage preservation and community engagement, honouring the past while supporting progressive, community-driven growth and revitalisation.

Interpretation signage invites visitors to discover the rich history of the site
Elements of playfulness are include in the interpretive signage, including this example framing the historic bin shed the sign references

Image credits: Andrew Watson, Flow Mountain Bike