Historical information

Diamond Creek Bini Shell Community venue

Built in 1979 in Diamond Creek opposite the hotel using a construction method invented by Dante Bini. A net of flexible steel rods were laid on the building’s circular base, on the top of a fabric bladder. Concrete was poured onto the mesh and a sealed cover laid over the concrete making a sandwich of cover, bladder and mesh. Compressed air was pumped into the bladder and the sandwich slowly began to rise and become a massive self-supporting dome.
The inflation of the dome attracted crowds of onlookers many from various technical schools, VIPs and the famous football doctor, Donald Cordner.
An opening night dinner was held to celebrate the construction and the Diamond Creek Bini Shell was used as a community venue for over ten years including for the Town Fair.
The Shell was closed for safety reasons after a Bini Shell in another State had chunks of concrete fall off the dome due to a construction fault. At the Diamond Creek Town Fair in 1991 the demolition of the Bini Shell was an item on the Town Fair’s program.

Information: Kevin Patterson, Nillumbik Historical Society

Physical description

Postcard