Visitors to the Twelve Apostles in Victoria will have to pay from April 2027 as a new $126 million centre opens on Friday.
Construction of the Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre was jointly funded by the federal ($88m) and state ($38m) governments.
The centre is part of a $676 million Twelve Apostles Precinct Redevelopment shared between state, federal and local (Geelong) governments.
Acting Federal Minister for Regional Development Catherine King says the new centre will support sustainable tourism along Victoria’s southwest coastline.
“The redevelopment is already playing an important part in the local economy and will encourage even more visitors to spend time in the region, boosting local jobs and businesses,” she says.
‘VISITORS TO BOOST ECONOMY’
State Minister for Rural and Regional Development, Michaela Settle calls it a “once-in-a-generation investment in the Great Ocean Road”.
Tourism Minister Natalie Suleyman predicts the centre will provide “a huge boost for our visitor economy”.
Federal (Labor) Senator for Victoria, Senator Raff Ciccone says: “This project will boost local tourism in the seat of Wannon while respecting local cultural heritage.”
Marcus Clarke, CEO Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, says: “Naming this centre Keerray Woorroong is a small but powerful act of returning Language to the place it has always belonged.
“We hope this centre is just the beginning for many visitors — a moment that sparks genuine curiosity and a desire to learn more about Eastern Maar culture, history and Country.”
The state government is looking to generate revenue from the Twelve Apostles and Great Ocean Road, which attracts 7 million visitors annually.
ABOUT THE NEW CENTRE FOR VISITORS
The new centre features a 230-seat cafe, kiosk, gallery, visitor information spaces, facilities and a rooftop lookout, surrounded by native gardens, paths to the coastline and car parking for more than 950 vehicles.
Keerray Woorroong is the name of the country and language of the First Nations people of the area, and their culture will be on show on plinths, a central skylight, a kooyang (short-finned eel) artwork and much more.
The state government believes the precinct will play a major role in the region’s economy as well as in the tourism and $49.5 billion state visitor economy. Almost 100 residents work at the centre.
The centre will open to visitors from this Friday (October 16) but free bookings will be needed; in April 2027, a permanent fee will be levied to help protect the coast and parks on the Great Ocean Road.
Bookings to the Twelve Apostles are now required before arriving and to secure a car park. For more details, visit: www.twelveapostles.org.au.
