Step inside the HMRI Poo Palace for a fun and fascinating journey through the digestive system at the 2025 Upper Hunter Show in Muswellbrook.

For the first time, visitors to the Upper Hunter Show will have the chance to experience the HMRI Poo Palace, a giant inflatable digestive system designed to bring gut health and digestion to life.

This free, interactive exhibit created by the University of Newcastle’s Gastrointestinal Research Group in partnership with Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) is dedicated to exploring how our digestive system affects overall health.

A larger-than-life look at digestion

The Poo Palace takes visitors on a journey through the human digestive system, starting at the mouth, traveling through the stomach, small intestine, and colon, and finally exiting, just like food does, through a giant inflatable bottom.

Along the way, primary school aged children learn how the body processes food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste. It’s a hands-on, engaging experience designed to highlight the importance of gut health and digestion in overall wellbeing.

What you can expect at the HMRI Poo Palace

• Learn about healthy digestion – Find out what a healthy poo should look like and what it can tell you about your gut health.
• Get free goodies – Every visitor will receive a show bag and an official Poo Palace crown to take home.
• Have fun while learning – Kids and adults alike will love this interactive, educational experience that turns digestion into an adventure.

HMRI’s commitment to community

The Poo Palace is part of HMRI’s ongoing commitment to engaging with the one million people across the Hunter New England region, listening to their health needs, and ensuring that research is shaped by the community it serves.

For HMRI’s Chief of Research Translation and Healthcare Improvement, Associate Professor Nicki Hodyl, engaging the community isn’t an afterthought, it’s central to doing business.

“Good research starts with listening. At HMRI, we work with communities like those in the Upper Hunter to understand their health needs and feed that knowledge back into our research ecosystem. This helps us focus on what really matters to people in our region. Together, we’re working towards making Hunter New England one of the healthiest places to live,” said Hodyl.  

Why gut health matters

Your digestive system is more than just a food processor; it’s a key player in your overall health. It helps break down food, absorb essential nutrients, and eliminate waste. But did you know it also directly impacts immune function and even mental health?

University of Newcastle Professor Simon Keely, leader of the Immune Health Research Program and Chief Investigator of the HMRI Gastrointestinal Research Group, explains:

“The gut is home to trillions of bacteria that are essential for immune function, digestion, and overall well-being. At HMRI, we’re investigating how the microbiome interacts with the immune system to influence health and disease. By unlocking these connections, we can develop better treatments and prevention strategies for digestive and inflammatory conditions.”

At HMRI’s Immune Health Research Program, our affiliated scientists, researchers, and clinicians from the University of Newcastle and Hunter New England Local Health District work together to explore how the immune system interacts with pathogens and the environment, and what impact this has on our overall health.

These researchers are working to better understand the connection between the gut, the immune system, and chronic diseases like diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Immune Health Research Program at HMRI is investigating:

• How gut bacteria influence immune health: Understanding the role of the gut microbiome in preventing disease and reducing inflammation.​
• The link between diet and gut health: Researching how different foods and nutrients affect digestion, gut bacteria, and overall wellbeing.​
• New treatments for digestive disorders: Developing innovative therapies for conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and coeliac disease.​
• The gut-brain connection: Exploring how the digestive system interacts with the nervous system and mental health.

Join us for a fun and educational experience

The HMRI Poo Palace is a one-of-a-kind experience that makes learning about digestion fun, engaging, and informative.

Whether you’re curious about how food turns into energy, how your gut affects your immune system, or how to improve your digestive health, our researchers are here to share the latest science in a way that’s easy to understand and fun for the whole family.

Come along to the Upper Hunter Show and take a trip through the digestive system like never before.

Event details

• Date: Friday, 14 March 2025 and Saturday 15, March 2025
• Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Location: Muswellbrook Showground
• Cost: Entry to the Poo Palace is free, but a ticket to the Upper Hunter Show is required
• Entry: Sessions: Running every 30 minutes from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Entry is first come, first served.