Project Perspective
From time to time, our clients challenge us to push the limits of innovation and deliver solutions that are both clever and practical. In 2025, one such client did exactly that.
Frustrated by the ongoing inefficiency of deploying a portable PA system for more than 20 events held annually in their cloister space, they sought a permanent audio solution capable of delivering consistent, high-quality coverage with minimal setup.
The challenge was significant. This stunning cloister, constructed in the 1930s, is protected by a local heritage overlay and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. As a result, traditional PA installation methods were immediately ruled out—no physical works or alterations to the structure were permitted under any circumstances.
The College was particularly impressed with our proposed garden speaker approach. Traditionally, garden speakers are used in outdoor environments such as resorts, theme parks, and landscaped spaces to provide low-level background music. Typically featuring a “mushroom-style” design, these speakers are non-directional and not generally intended for higher-output or speech-focused applications.
Technical Requirements
However, during our product evaluation process, we identified a solution within Crestron’s expansive outdoor audio portfolio—their ‘Ultimate’ range of outdoor speakers. While not an obvious choice at first, these IP65-rated speakers depart from conventional garden speaker designs. They are fully directional, two-way loudspeakers with a power handling capability of 150W at 100V. When paired with Crestron’s garden stake accessory and direct-burial cabling, the speakers could be discreetly installed within the surrounding garden beds, with cabling buried entirely—achieving full coverage without any impact on the heritage structure. Acoustic calculations confirmed that just four speakers would be sufficient for this unique space.
The system was complete with a pair of Shure ULX-D wireless microphones and a Bluetooth media player, enabling the space to support a wide variety of events at a moment’s notice, without technical complexity.
Outcomes
The results exceeded expectations. Speech reproduction is crisp and intelligible, while music playback is warm and evenly distributed, with ample volume to comfortably cover the entire cloister—including the first-floor areas where students gather during key events.
The Geelong College was delighted with the final outcome, and we have already received outstanding feedback from regular users of the space. This project stands as another example of the MultiTek Solutions team thinking beyond conventional approaches to deliver a system that not only overcomes a challenging installation environment, but truly excels in performance.
