Major milestone reached at Twelve Apostles centre

The Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre has hit a major construction milestone, with its rammed-earth façade now complete.

The facade rounds out the main structure of the building that is a key part of the Twelve Apostles Precinct redevelopment and aims to be a world-class gateway to Victoria’s south-west.

In a nod to the neighbouring coastline, the façade and walls were constructed layer by layer, from 1,500 tonnes of rock.

The hand-formed structures were created by regional Victorian company Earth Structures, setting the scene for an immersive experience with nature.

“I think this will be one of our most iconic buildings. It has a beautiful and humble design, with the use of materials here echoing the structure of the cliffs and the rock stacks,” Earth Structures managing director, Rick Lindsay, said.

Designed by Grimshaw, the Visitor Experience Centre features hundreds of native lants extending across its low-profile rooftop and down to a large Welcome Garden.

“Rammed earth was chosen for its strong connection to Country and Place,” Grimshaw Architects associate principal Harriet Oswald said.

“Its texture and warmth create a tactile experience that welcomes and grounds, encouraging a moment of pause as visitors move through the building from grasslands to coastal attractions.”

Plants have been selected by the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, part of a collaborative design across the redevelopment that will introduce visitors to a deeper story of Keerray Woorroong Country.

The centre is expected to greet millions of visitors each year to the state’s most visited natural destination.

Companies in Geelong, Colac, Warrnambool, and Ballarat won contracts to be part of the construction of the building.

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority will manage the centre once it is completed later this year.

The overall Twelve Apostles Visitor Precinct redevelopment is part of the Geelong City Deal and a $676 million investment by the Australian and Victorian governments.

“Right along this coastline, we’re investing in infrastructure and experiences that drive more tourists to the economy of the south-west,” Victorian Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes said today (Thursday, February 26).

Corangamite federal member Libby Coker also welcomed the milestone.

“This visitor centre is an important investment in the Great Ocean Road region – one that creates local jobs and helps visitors connect more deeply with our coastline,” she said.