A NEW mobile and tablet device application created to offer a historic journey through York was officially launched by Member for Central Wheatbelt Mia Davies MLA recently.
The free Shire of York Trails and Tours app developed by shire planning officer Kira Strange gives users the chance to follow an in-town heritage trail guided by a map and information explaining the historical significance of heritage icons along the way.
Ms Davies said the pilot community development project had the potential to enrich the tourism and heritage experience of historic York for visitors and locals.
"This great project aims to capture and package York into a neat, easy-to-use, one-stop mobile app for town visitors and locals," she said.
"Once the pilot is complete the project could be expanded to take in more walking tours covered under the shire's evolving Trails Master Plan, reducing the paper footprint left by traditional hard copy maps, information and marketing used to promote tourist attractions.
"Enriching the tourism experience in the Wheatbelt is capitalising on one of the five advantages identified for the economic development of the Wheatbelt through the Wheatbelt Development Commission's Blueprint process."
The pilot app is designed to take users along Avon Terrace, highlighting 18 significant historical landmarks along the way.
Users can view a map on their mobile device to guide them along the journey and select an option to have information on each landmark narrated to them, or displayed for reading.
Ms Strange said the pilot project aimed to re-engage the community with York's streetscape and instil local pride in the town's heritage.
"My initial concern was developing an app may limit the use of the trail to certain age groups, however, some statistics show people over 65 among the highest buyers and users of smartphone and tablet devices," she said.
Earlier this year free wifi was installed at the York Information Centre, allowing users to download the app there free of charge without using up their own data.
The project was made possible from a Lotterywest grant and has been developed over the last 12 months in collaboration with the Department of Sport and Recreation, Acoustiguide, Experience Perth and Lotterywest.
