In a galactic first for brick enthusiasts and Jedi alike, an official LEGO exhibition dedicated entirely to the Star Wars saga has opened in Melbourne.
The impressive display, the brainchild of LEGO Masters’ Ryan “Brickman” McNaught, features a breathtaking array of Star Wars icons.
From life-sized pod racers to intricate throne rooms and formidable Death Stars, and even hands-on LEGO building stations, the exhibit promises an immersive experience.
As a dedicated Star Wars fan of 33 years, I can attest — it truly blew me away.
LEGO Star Wars The Exhibition is constructed from an astounding eight million LEGO bricks and represents a monumental 25,000 hours of dedicated work, and it’s all on show at Melbourne Museum.
Ahead of its public opening on May the 4th, I was invited for an exclusive preview of the out-of-this-world exhibition — and I caught up with Brickman!
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While the sheer scale of the builds is captivating, for Brickman, the unassuming C-3PO model holds a particular significance.
He believes it could well be one of the most valuable LEGO creations ever.
“The gold bricks in C-3PO were specially made by LEGO — that colour doesn’t actually normally exist.
“And to give you an idea, a standard LEGO brick typically costs around 20 to 30 cents, but these special gold pieces are about five to $6 each!” McNaught said.
McNaught also highlighted the intricate detail involved in bringing the golden droid to life.
“His face was a very difficult thing to do. So on my desk at work, I have four different versions of his head. So yeah, I’m pretty proud of him,” he said.
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Comparing this colossal undertaking to his previous work, McNaught noted the sheer scale of the Star Wars project.
“So Jurassic World was the largest one we’ve done previously, and that was about six million bricks. So Star Wars is quite a lot bigger,” he explained.
“And you know what? No offence to dinosaurs, but Star Wars gave us the opportunity to be more detailed,” McNaught enthused.
“So, for example, with the cutaway of the Death Star, we were able to have fun incorporating numerous figures — you simply can’t achieve that same level of narrative detail with dinosaurs!”
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For those eager to experience this LEGO Star Wars spectacle, Brickman offers a valuable piece of advice.
“The real draw is the interactive components — building your own spaceships, witnessing dynamic street scenes, and seeing the lightsabers come to life. You genuinely can’t experience any of that anywhere else – that’s where the real fun lies!”
Having built my own lightsaber in the exhibit and seeing it come to life, I’m confident LEGO Star Wars The Exhibition will blow fans away.
Those looking to attend will need to book in advance — there’s no walk-ins.
The exhibition is on now, and will finish up in January next year.
