Construction begins on Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre

CONSTRUCTION has begun on the Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre (VEC), with works expected to be complete by the end of next year.

Part of the Geelong City Deal, the centre will include retail and hospitality spaces, to be decided in consultation with industry, as well as exhibitions, office space and a rooftop lookout with sweeping views of the Shipwreck Coast.

There will also be bus parking, car parking for hundreds of cars, landscaping, and new road infrastructure and upgrades.

The VEC will also teach visitors about the area’s rich history of shipwrecks and maritime impacts, and the geomorphology of the Twelve Apostles.

It includes a new Welcome Garden, designed in consultation with the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, which will celebrate the community’s cultural and environmental values.

The VEC is the major component of the $126 million Twelve Apostles Precinct Redevelopment.

Kane Constructions is the head contractor for the project, which is expected to provide employment for the equivalent of up to 90 full-time positions during construction and up to 50 ongoing jobs upon opening.

The redevelopment also delivers the Private Sector Business Enablement Fund (PSBEF), designed to help fund underlying infrastructure to support private sector investment in the Shipwreck Coast and Great Ocean Road regions.

It aims to make it safer and easier to enjoy the area’s stunning natural assets, draw domestic and international visitors, and encourage visitors to stay longer, transforming a day visit into nightly stays in the Great Ocean Road and Shipwreck Coast regions.

“The Twelve Apostles is one of the most visited natural attractions in Australia, welcoming almost two million visitors each year and rising,” federal Minister for Regional Development and Local Government Kristy McBain said this week.

“It’s an exciting time for the Shipwreck Coast as we work together with the Victorian Government and local councils to continue making the region an amazing place to live, work and visit.”

Victorian Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes said the project would make the visitor experience at the Twelve Apostles much better.

“The ongoing economic benefit to the local communities will also continue to make the Great Ocean Road an incredible place to live, stay and enjoy.”

For more information, head to engage.vic.gov.au/project/twelve-apostles