Visitors to Castlemaine and surrounds can now discover more about the region’s past from the comfort of their car thanks to a new app – Autio.
Autio was co-founded in the US by actor Kevin Costner in a bid to share local history and stories.
“I love stories, I am the guy that stops at the historical markers along the highway, usually bringing moans from everyone in the car,” Costner said.
“But it was this continuing curiosity that I began to think Autio could satisfy without anyone having to leave the car,” the actor said.
Autio has announced its Australian launch, in partnership with the Victoria Tourism Industry Council, initially focusing on Victoria in the region between Castlemaine, Bendigo and Echuca.
Autio is a mobile audio entertainment app for travel that uses geolocation technology to automatically play stories of landmarks, cities and towns nearby. Headquartered in California with a mission to deliver a compelling story at the right time, wherever you may be; the app features over 10,000 stories in the United States and now hundreds in Australia.
The app won the Webby for ‘Best Travel App’ and has been featured as ‘App of the Day’ by Apple.
Autio Australia production director Daryl Missen said it is exciting to capture the wonderful stories of Australia, starting in regional Victoria.
“We are loving learning more and more about our amazing country on this journey, and bringing the stories to life,” he said.
“Every place has a story, now every story has a place. With over 200 stories and growing that are free to listen to, from Castlemaine, Bendigo, Echuca, Heathcote, Daylesford, Kyabram and more, Autio provides an entertaining, informative, and important record of these incredible Australian places,” Missen said.
Autio Australia Content Director Dan Bradley said some of the local stories to feature include content on the origins of Castlemaine, when it was originally named Forest Creek – and the influence of gold on the region, when John Worley who announced the discovery of gold in the area. It also includes content on local footy legend Ron Barrassi; the launch of the Theatre Royal and the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens; the story of Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin growing up in Yapeen; the renaming of a stretch of the old Calder to Harmony Way after Henry Harmony Nelson of the Dja Dja Wurrung clan; and the origins of Maldon.
“We are adding to the content all the time. Each piece runs for two to four minutes,” Bradley said.
The Autio app is now available for download free from the Apple App Store.