More than 30 behind the scene photographs taken at eight leading physics laboratories including Stawell’s own operation will line the sides of the city’s Pioneer Walk from Thursday.

ARC Centre of Excellence for Particle Physics’ Caroline Hamilton said the exhibition, which launches during National Science Week, was an exciting first for Stawell and Australia.

“There’s this lab in the heart of Victoria and it’s in its very humble beginnings, yet it’s already managed to capture the imagination of people around the world,” she said. 

“It’s amazing.”

Ms Hamilton said it was the first time Australia was able to enter the biennial Global Physics Photowalk wherein eight of the top laboratories open their doors and allow photographers to capture their unique environments. 

Ms Hamilton said it was fantastic Stawell could be a part of the project, especially in such an early stage of development. 

“It’s a really unique opportunity to get people into a lab – when it’s not even a lab yet,” she said. 

“Every underground laboratory has those kinds of beginnings where everything is dirty and dark, with basically cave walls.

“Now they’re these amazing high tech labs with fantastic equipment and it’s all very sci-fi really.

“To have the opportunity to see what it’s like before – that only happens once.”

Ms Hamilton said photos of the Stawell lab were picked as first place in a people’s choice award and second in a judged award. She said the permanent walk gives residents and visitors a chance to understand what’s going on deep below ground. 

“People can wander around and can happen upon the images and say ‘oh wow, this is what’s happening’,” she said. 

“It’s really important people in the community know what’s happening, it demystifies it.”

The exhibit launches August 25 with a guided tour.