Year 6 students from Central State School were the first to experience the National Capital Authority’s (NCA) travelling Lego exhibition, ‘Build Your Own Capital’.

On Friday morning NCA Visitor Services Co-ordinator, David Richardson, led the children in the architectural exercise.

“In the education program we try to encourage students to create something of national significance, something for the future,” he said.

“Obviously they are the future, and Canberra belongs to them.

Around 30,000 Lego bricks and construction sheets make up this hands-on educational experience, which is open to supervised children and school groups until January 21.

“With school holidays you can come on in, escape the heat, learn a bit about Canberra, and utilise the great facilities at the library here,” Mr Richardson said.

He said the travelling exhibition is similar to the permanent one in Canberra.

“We get more than 50,000 students coming to our exhibition in Canberra, and educate them about the capital. But we understand that not everyone can come to Canberra, so that’s why we’ve come out here.”

Students worked in groups of three to create unique structures that were then carefully positioned on a floor map of Canberra.

These included a multicultural centre, town hall, spaceship, and frighteningly, a nuclear plant.

The Lego exhibition is designed for children from four years old and is suitable for a range of abilities. 

But Mount Isa Councillor Jean Ferris said the exhibition is sure to be popular with visitors of all ages.

“Lego has long been a favourite activity for children and adults,” Cr Ferris said.

“I’ve no doubt this exhibition will inspire our future builders, architects and engineers.

“The Brick by Brick exhibition will also help connect North West Queensland to our nation’s capital, Canberra, which is important to all Australians as the home to our Federal Parliament.”

For more information, contact the friendly staff at Mount Isa Library.