LIMESTONE Coast resident Emma Robinson built up her travelling experience brick by brick recently when she toured the iconic Billund Lego House.
Returning from Denmark on Monday, Ms Robinson and her partner secured one of 100 annual passes on the Lego Inside Tour, edging out thousands of applicants from around the globe.
Considered one of the greatest fan experiences, Ms Robinson said the three-day adventure was better than she imagined.
“We stayed in Billund’s Legoland Castle Hotel in a Lego-themed room and although it could be considered for children, we thought it was pretty cool,” she said.
“Our tour had 35 participants from 13 different countries and we were the only two from Australia.
“It was an amazing experience and I would consider going again.”
From exploring a vault with every set of Lego made to walking the aisles of machinery pressing the iconic plastic brick, Ms Robinson said she received the real behind-the-scenes of the manufacturing, history and production of the iconic plastic building brick.
“There was a lot more involved behind the research, development and engineering than I thought,” she said.
“We were able to meet some really awesome people which most of the general public would not know.
“I did know about some of the things we saw from documentaries and research.”
Ms Robinson said exploring the factory where Lego was made was eye-opening.
“We were explicitly told not to touch any of the Lego even if it is on the floor,” she said.
“When a child or adult buys and opens up the set of Lego, they are the first human to touch the pieces.
“I did not know that before.”
Ms Robinson said she was surprised the off-cuts of plastic left over from the manufacturing of Lego automatically went back into the system to be remelted and used again.
“There is virtually no waste,” she said.
“It is all controlled by robots as well which was different.”
Ms Robinson said they spent a whole day at Lego House which showed the history of the brick well.
“Even though a lot of people would think it would be for children, it was just as enjoyable for us as two adults,” she said.
“Lego inventor Ole Kirk Christiansen’s original house is still standing so we were able to explore the history inside there too.”
Ms Robinson said only people on the tour and employees were able to visit the house.
Ms Robinson said she would still not want to work with the company even if the original factory site had been transformed into a modern block of city offices.
“It is even colder in Billund than Mount Gambier and the town is around the same size as Millicent but employs around 3500 people,” she said.
“If you combine your passion with a job, sometimes you can lose it.
“If I was a design and engineering type person then maybe.”
The vault with every box-set of Lego ever made was one of Ms Robinson’s trip highlights.
“The seven to eight of us in our group went and found the mint condition box-set of what we had as a kid,” she said.
“I think we all wished we still had a set in such great condition nowadays.
“We also were able to see those big sets you always wanted but never allowed to have.”
Ms Robinson is the founder and organiser of BrickGambier which will be held this weekend at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds on October 6 and 7 from 10am.
