Naracoorte’s Legorium, a magnificent city of Lego, will soon open for two days in a bid to raise funds for Motor Neuron Disease (MND).

Legorium includes three colourful rooms – one 8m x 8m – boasting displays with various Lego themes from flowers and retro items to planes, trains, cranes and much more.

There are a myriad of sets and displays including a Colosseum, the Titanic, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Dinosaurs, Vikings, and the Wild West.

Behind Legorium is Naracoorte’s Angela McLachlan, a self-proclaimed “Lego addict”, supported by her daughter Acacia and partner Dr Tony Cohen.

Ms McLachlan recalls playing with Lego as a child, and enjoying it.

Almost 20 years ago she started buying various Lego sets for her four young children, then helped them build it – “or I built it for them,” she laughed.

Around six years ago Ms McLachlan started building Lego again, this time for herself. Her friends started giving her boxes of their second-hand Lego that was no longer being used.

She also bought more from Op-shops and via the internet.

“I originally had (the Lego) in my shed at home, but after a while it outgrew my shed,” Ms McLachlan said.

Family and friends helped her to move the ever-growing Lego collection to another property.

“With the help of Mike from Dippy Does It, we have transformed the shed (into a place) for me to sort, organise and build the Lego, and also display it,” she said.

Since then she has built even more Lego displays, with her daughter helping with administrative tasks.

“Tony helps me too – sometimes we sit and build Lego together. He has built a lot of things. I know some people might think it’s weird, but we enjoy it,” Ms McLachlan said.

“I don’t drink or smoke or have any other vices, I just like collecting, sorting, researching and building Lego.”

While Ms McLachlan enjoyed building the Lego, it was the detective work involved with all the second hand Lego that she particularly relished.

“A large majority of the Lego here is second hand,” she said.

“Some of it comes in sets. But a lot of it comes in boxes with lots of mixed pieces.”

Often when a box of used Lego arrived, there were things like a non-working pen or a couple of dice mixed in it.

Opening it up, Ms McLachlan said she liked to go through it all and sort it out.

“I look for Lego pieces that are unique, uncommon or with specific stickers or patterns,” she said.

“After finding these pieces I am able to find out what sets they are from.

“From there I can then track down all the parts for that specific kit and gather all the parts together so it can be built later on.

“My favourite part of having all this Lego is being able to sort it and give the Lego that people are no longer using, or that is second hand, a new home.”

With people eager to see her massive collection, Ms McLachlan recently decided to open her building at 127 Gordon St to raise funds for Motor Neuron Disease.

“I have family and friends that have been affected by Motor Neuron Disease (MND),” she said.

“Opening my Lego collection to the public allows me to share my passion with other people while also raising money for a good cause.”

Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is the name of a group of diseases which affect motor nerves or neurons.

The motor neurons degenerate and die, causing the muscles to become weaker and weaker. Eventually it leads to paralysis.

“I hope people come and support this charity as well as enjoy the Lego displays,” Ms McLachlan said.

During the open days on November 23 and 24, people will be asked to “make a donation” to enter the Legorium, with all proceeds going to MND.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte News.