The way that grey nomads and other travellers experience the wonders of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road is set to change as the new Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre takes shape.
The rooftop structure where a lookout will showcase the area’s stunning scenery has been completed, representing a major milestone in the $126 million redevelopment of the visitor precinct which is expected to be fully finished late next year.
The Visitor Experience Centre will include retail and hospitality, a rooftop lookout, Welcome Garden, and engaging opportunities to learn about Eastern Maar cultural heritage and the surrounding landscape. Extensive car and bus parking, landscaping, revegetation, and new road infrastructure are also being delivered.
An artist's impression of the new centre which will be completed late next year.
The Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre is part of the Geelong City Deal, a $676 million investment by the Australian and Victorian governments to unlock the potential of the Great Ocean Road visitor economy.
The development of this major project follows the recent completion of other lookouts at the Twelve Apostles Precinct, including the new ‘Poombeeyt Koontapool’ viewing area at the Loch Ard Gorge Blowhole.
The project will create a world-class gateway to the famous coastline and beyond, with hopes it will provide a boost to the regional and visitor economy.
Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, said the topping out of the centre was a major milestone in the project.
“The new centre will be a massive boost for local tourism along the Great Ocean Road while also supporting more than 90 jobs during construction,” he said.
And the state’s Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts, Harriet Shing, was equally enthusiastic.
“We’re delivering a landmark centre that blends world-class design with cultural and environmental values, creating a precinct that will serve the region for decades to come,” she said.
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I first drove the GOR in 1968, since that time I’ve driven it many many times.
All the coastal towns have grown massively & tourism has grown along with it.
Years ago there were a few “free camps” along the coast but they disappeared many years ago.
The Apollo Bay foreshore strip was full of campers, mostly in tents.
The traffic has increased enormously particularly bus loads of overseas tourists.
It’s very over commercialised now
and unnatural
pits now out of reach for locals with the prices
Unfortunately the water run off from the building site has caused erosion at the famous Gibson steps and they are closed with no known opening date. Repeated reports to EPA get no results.
Also, the details of this project are secret. Have to sign a confidentiality agreement to work on it
And it continues to be pumped over the cliffs
If a local farmer were to pump water like this there would be major consequences
Hopefully all the “tourists” will flock there and leave the rest of the “road” for the genuine traveller.
It is my dream to travel this Road. My Grandfather worked on it after the first world war during the depression. I want to travel from Sydney to Adelaide via this road, then to Darwin and then down to Perth, from there to Townsville then home to rest and enjoy the Memories. This has been my Dream since being a Highway Jockey in a Kenworth for a few years. Could never get of the Sydney /Melbourne / Brisbane run during my time. The Dream is strong, the determination is there, and the motorhome is ready, just waiting on the wife, and if she isn’t quick, she will be getting postcards of the trip. At my age the time is running out.
I drove the G.O.R. less than 2 weeks ago. The Victorian Government should hang its head in shame, the state of the road is a disgrace, with huge pot holes, bits of road totally missing or broken up. Bad enough just for a vehicle, if you are towing a van, be very careful. Even the locals were up in arms, about their tyres being shredded.
Needs far more resources, hotels along the cliff top, and continued signage to Warrnambool. This would reduce the day return trips from Melbourne, bring added revenue, and make our roads safer
It’s a disgrace what they have done and are still doing to Gibson steps.
Let alone what they have turned Port Campbell into..
Yes I agree – needs a lot more money spent to make it commercialy viable
How to destroy a beautiful, natural area. Too many public service departments tripping over themselves to see who can bring the next layer of stupidity. Clueless morons.
On a motorbike 30 years ago, nothing better it’s an awesome road.
Driven GOR twice in the last 6 months and the condition of parts of that road is an absolute disgrace and utterly DANGEROUS.
The Vic government are nothing short of PATHETIC.
On a brighter note , I always love visiting Lorne and staying in The Pole House at Fairhaven was a blast .
FIX YOUR ROADS VICTORIA FFS