The Victorian town of Rochester some 15 minutes south of the Murray River town of Echuca is going all out to attract grey nomads and other visitors.
Just months after unveiling its stunning silo art work, the community is now determined to give the local caravan park a new lease on life and give travellers more of what they want.
The Rochester Caravan Park is on Crown Land and currently managed by the Campaspe Shire Council with the operation of the park leased to a private operator. However, Campaspe Shire Council has just handed management of the park to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning with the recommendation that the Rochester Recreation Reserve Committee of Management manage it in the future.
The caravan park will be renamed Rochester Riverside Holiday Park, and a committee of management will take over its day-to-day running with a simple brief … increase tourism in the area.
“The committee will focus on increasing the tourism market, providing a great holiday park beside the Campaspe River and central to the Rochester township,” Campaspe Shire mayor, Adrian Weston, told the Bendigo Advertiser. “The committee of management already manages the adjacent recreation reserve, and this will see the whole area under the responsibility of one manager with a keen focus on increasing visitation to the caravan park and the town.”
Back in 2017, Rochester opened a 24-hour RV area known as ‘the Silo Stop’. With the local dairy industry struggling and the farming community ‘doing it tough’, the Rochester Business Network had long argued that a free campsite would bring in the ‘grey dollar’ and put the town firmly on the nomad map.
Rochester also recently joined the Silo Art Trail and, with its newly painted silos located close to cafes, shops and hotels, it was hoped the artwork would provide another welcome boost to the town.
Kate Taylor from the Rochester Business Network member said she hoped the silo art would allow the town to capitalise on traffic that passed through the small town on its way to Echuca.
‘‘The town is really excited as we’ve had our fair share of knocks,” she said. “You’ve got the Murray Goulburn factory closing and then it’s almost like, ‘ooh, let’s throw in a drought, now let’s throw in a flood’.”
Yes we have stopped at Rochester to buy lunch and view the incredible art work of Jimmy Dvate…who has recently painted our home silos in Waikerie. SA
We stopped to view your stunning art work–in our opinion the best along the Silo Trail, last October. We didn’t realise that you part of the trail, which we had just completed and chanced upon your art work.
Being part of the travelling silver set, I think if your caravan park offers large grassy areas with options of power and water in some areas at a reasonable cost then you will attract visitors.
I have no idea what the Murray Goulbourn factory site is like but if it was in a good location and was feasible to turn it into a coffee shop/ cafe/ cheese tasting/ art gallery for local artists ( just thinking along the lines of the Cheese Factory in Milawa–very successful), then it would be a winner.
I’ll be surprised if that works…DWELP will have issues
Yes stopped at Rochester to view the silos travelling back to SA. Did not stay O/N as it was too early.
Yes we stopped and thought the silo art was fantastic. have done a few silo art works and Rochester is at the top of our “best” list.
Had lunch/coffee and fuel, but were just passing through. Sorry. Next lap we will stop.
Understanding the busy periods, Easter and Christmas but if all reports are correct and 49% ONLY stay at caravan parks that leaves 51% to be enticed to stay with reasonable prices. North of $35 is atrocious and for seniors, or pensioners, no kids, no bouncy things or swingy things, $15 to $20 a night might be an inducement. Can’t see reason coming into the equation though, unfortunately.
Visited town due to visit with dentist, stayed at c/park, needs a camp kitchen, park needs upgrading thought a little expensive. Love the town, shopped & ate in town, would visit again if in area.
We found this town by accident. We were doing the Silo Art Trail and this one wasn’t on the booklet we had.
The town was beautiful and the silo was among the best of the 20+ silos we’ve seen, so far.
WE will definitely be going back and staying, when next we’re in the area.
I hope the council might look at volunteer caretakers. I’d gladly stop there for a week or two, clean the area daily, keep an eye on things and help other travelers… just for being allowed to stay there free.
Played 9 holes of golf on a nice course there a number of years ago, will definitely be back, looking forward to checking out the silo art.