In the heart of Tasmania’s Fingal Valley, where rolling hills frame a town of 400 residents, an ambitious idea is taking root.

Fingal, once a thriving hub in gold rush times, is proposing to become the virtual world of SimCity’s “sister” community.

The forward-thinking proposal of “twinning” with the open city-building video game is an attempt to reimagine the tiny town’s future.

At the helm of this initiative is Hamish Thompson, a UK national and the owner of the local Flying Saucer coffee shop, a business he opened with his partner Liz in a former gold rush bank.

Mr Thompson arrived in Fingal three years ago, drawn by its charm and potential.

“This is a beautiful place,” he tells AAP.

“The kind of place where, if you planted a fork in the soil, you’d grow a full dinner set by summer.

“But we’ve got work to do to get it back on the map.”

Tasmania has long been a cradle of creativity, where isolation inspires innovation.

From MONA’s boundary-pushing art to the quirky Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival, the island state has turned its remoteness into an asset.

Fingal’s residents are no exception.

They see the SimCity proposal as a chance to showcase their town’s potential on a global stage.

“The idea for the SimCity twinning came out of a conversation about how to do something radical to get attention,” Mr Thompson explains.

“We thought, why not reach out to SimCity? It’s a game about building successful communities, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do here.”

As “sister cities”, two communities from across the world establish a formal partnership to foster mutual understanding and cultural exchange.

With more than 120 ghost towns in Tasmania, the SimCity twinning proposal is an attempt to stop Fingal from reaching the same fate.

The symbolic yet sincere plan involved writing to Andrew Wilson, the Australian-born CEO of Electronic Arts, SimCity’s parent company.

Mr Thompson envisions a partnership that could include signage recognising the twinning, promotion of Fingal within the game’s community and even inspiration for SimCity players to imagine real world possibilities for towns like Fingal.

“We’d like to see some creative exchange,” Mr Thompson says.

“Perhaps players could download a version of Fingal to build upon in the game, or the town could host events that reflect the spirit of SimCity.”

“The possibilities are endless if we dream big enough.”

Fingal’s charm lies in its people and its history.

The town is home to artisans and makers, from sock knitters to painters.

“It’s like the town is waiting to manifest as an arts hub,” Mr Thompson says.

“Add a few more businesses, and we could be on our way.”

Even its history is rich in stories of ingenuity.

Mr Thompson recently uncovered the tale of Frank McComas, an artist born in Fingal in the 1870s who became a pioneer of American modern art.

“He trained in Sydney, moved to California and ended up championing abstract expressionism,” he says.

“This town’s rock formations might have inspired him before he ever left, I think we need to celebrate him more.”

The SimCity proposal has captured the imagination of Fingal’s residents, with wide support.

“If the residents of SimCity were to visit, they’d probably arrive on a floppy disk, but we’d still give them the full Fingal welcome,” Mr Thompson jokes.

The bid is not just about gaining attention for the town.

For Mr Thompson and his neighbours, it’s about believing in Fingal’s potential.

“Living in a town of 400 people, you hear the most fascinating stories,” he says.

“Everyone has the space to be themselves. I love this place and I want others to see what I see.”

AAP has sought comment from Electronic Arts.

Whether SimCity’s parent company responds to the town’s proposal or not, Fingal residents are forging ahead with optimism and creativity.

It’s a small town, but its vision is expansive.

 

Emily Verdouw
(Australian Associated Press)