"ICONIC Australian Design" showcases the nation's culture through everyday items.

The exhibition is curated by Monash University senior lecturer Ian Wong, who has curated exhibitions in Beijing, Milan, and Hong Kong.

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He said many designs people are familiar with have surprising cultural significance.

"You go to cross the road and you push a button at the lights. That button didn't come from somewhere else in the world, it was something that we developed and is almost indestructible," Mr Wong said.

"All (Australian) towns still have the same button on them, and that sound that was picked up by one of the contemporary music artists is something we all know. "But using it was about inclusion; if you can't see or you've got poor hearing, you still need to be safe crossing the road.

"It's a totally Australian innovation that came out of Sydney in 1986, and it's still be installed.

"We have some incredibly good designers in this country, and the collection tries to shine a light on more than 100 of those individuals."

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Mr Wong will be present to talk about the display from when the exhibition opens on Friday, July 9 to Sunday, July 11.

The exhibition will run until Sunday, August 1.

It includes a series of films Mr Wong has made that tell the stories behind these products. In addition to short written descriptions about the products, the exhibition also contains QR codes people can scan for a more detailed overview of the item.

Ballarat Holden Car Club will also arrive at 11am on On Sunday, July 11.

Mr Wong said the club's presence would be fitting.

"Australian designers are incredibly practical," he said.

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"So many farming families around Willaura would have a good Holden ute that just works and does what it needs to do.

"The ute had to be reliable. If the Holden designers had taken an American design or a European design it wouldn't have stood up in the bush because it wouldn't have been engineered to last in the conditions. It had to be a quality Australian product."

Project coordinator Lois Reynolds contacted Mr Wong to see if the exhibition could be brought to Willaura.

The exhibition was held in Melbourne and Adelaide, and Mr Wong said he was proud to move to the country.

"Willaura and Willaura Modern are really seeking to bring things to the region," he said.

"People need things to do, things to see and to be valued, so I'm very pleased to be able to bring the exhibition to thins community because the community itself is stepping up."

Willaura Modern hopes to discover other significant pieces of Australian design history that might be hiding in people's kitchen cupboards or farm workshops. If anyone thinks they have a unique object or invention, they are encouraged to bring it along during the opening weekend.

For further details, please contact Lois Reynolds 0428 541 482.

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