Delprat XR: Digitising the Past, Prototyping the Future for Real-World Heritage Sites

Abstract This article presents the Delprat XR project, an innovative digital heritage initiative focused on the immersive virtual restoration of Delprat Cottage, a historically significant site in Newcastle, Australia. Utilising advanced Extended Reality (XR) technologies—including LiDAR scanning, drone-based photogrammetry, and real-time rendering in Unreal Engine—the project digitally reconstructs the site's historical layers to facilitate interactive, multisensory experiences. Central to the initiative is the integration of architectural preservation, and immersive storytelling, enabling users to engage dynamically with the cottage's past, present, and speculative futures. The prototype proposes a participatory design methodology, emphasising local stakeholder collaboration, accessibility, and spatial narrative strategies to foster inclusive and critically engaged heritage experiences. Proposed evaluation methods include user experience metrics, interaction analytics, and qualitative feedback, revealing XR's significant potential to enhance public engagement, historical education, and cultural memory. By moving beyond traditional static conservation approaches, the Delprat XR project contributes a scalable, adaptive framework for rethinking heritage preservation through embodied, interactive encounters.