Winchelsea visitor centre to return to historic library building

THE Winchelsea Visitor Information Centre will soon be back in its original home, the town’s former library building, after necessary repairs are completed.

In its May meeting, held in Moriac, the Surf Coast Shire council approved the plan to return the visitor centre to its old location.

The building, which had been used by volunteers to provide visitor information services for more than two decades, was closed in 2020 due to the pandemic and later deemed unsafe due to large cracks in a brick wall.

To address these issues, the council will invite tenders for underpinning the wall and repairing the brickwork and plaster in the new financial year.

“Following a period of displacement, we are looking forward to having our wonderful VIC volunteers return to the former library, opposite Café La Hoot,” Cr Adrian Schonfelder said.

“The location, close to our beautiful Barwon River recreation precinct, is ideal, and the friendly and informative service they provide is very much appreciated by visitors to our beautiful region.”

Cr Schonfelder said that repair work on the building is expected to start later this year, and the council will look for a suitable co-tenant to complement the Visitor Information Centre’s operations.

Before its closure, the centre operated from 10 am to 2 pm, Fridays to Sundays. After the building became inaccessible, the service temporarily moved to Winchelsea’s former shire hall and later transitioned to providing brochures at several local businesses.