What is Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village? What are we doing in 2015?

What is Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village?
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village takes visitors on a
journey through an Australian coastal village of the
1870s. The village features a hotel, boat builder’s shed,
tea rooms, a pub, church and newspaper office among
others. The elevated setting also accommodates two
working historic lighthouses, lighthouse keeper’s
lodge (providing tourist accommodation) and the
Warrnambool Garrison area. All are on the Victorian
Heritage Register.
FHMV was established in 1975 and has transformed
what was an overgrown horse paddock into a visitor
attraction that has welcomed more than three million
guests and provides a community hub along with one
of Australia’s most significant maritime and social
heritage museums.
Originally the concept of the Warrnambool Chamber
of Commerce, FHMV has been managed by
Warrnambool City Council after the
project received funding from the
Victorian Government for tourism and heritage
development.
In 40 years of operation there has been a range of
development across the site. The last major upgrade
was completed in 2001 with the installation of the
nightly Shipwrecked Sound and Laser Show.
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village is Australia’s most
awarded maritime heritage precinct. It has received
Victorian Tourism awards, Museums Australia and
community awards. It is also the top rated paid entry
attraction on the Great Ocean Road as judged by
Tripadvisor guests.
What are we doing in 2015?
With support from Regional Development Victoria,
Tourism Victoria and a local bequest a Flagstaff Hill
Maritime Village Master Plan was developed.
In 2013 Regional Development Victoria announced a
state government contribution of $1.95m to support
a Warrnambool City Council commitment of
$500,000 over two years towards the renewal of the
maritime village.
This funding will be used to:
• upgrade the day and evening experience;
• re-configure the FHMV reception, Visitor
Information Centre and restaurant spaces;
• improve access around the village; and,
• consolidate the FHMV boat fleet with a focus
on heritage vessels.
Why are we doing it?
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village is an important
cultural and tourism asset for Warrnambool and
Victoria. The renewal project aims to provide an
enhanced guest experience, focus boat works on
heritage vessels and allow the site to be used for a
range of purposes.
What is Happening Now?
Rowitta – Tasmania replica vessel
removal
The large wooden vessel in the harbour will be
removed starting on April 16. This hull came to
FHMV in 1975 and the superstructure was built in
situ over a number of years. There are no heritage
fixtures or fittings on the vessel.
In 2008 a Wooden Boat Review prioritised our
limited boat building resources. Rowitta was
identified as a replica vessel and in very poor
condition. The possibility of restoring Rowitta was
found to be not viable.
In designing Rowitta’s removal the contractor has
partnered with a wooden boat restoration project
in South Australia allowing any viable timbers to
be used in that restoration project.
The removal of Rowitta will mean our rare trade
wooden boat builder can focus on heritage
vessels. This has already started with the historic
Warrnambool Lifeboat being placed in dry dock
for complete replanking and restoration.
Other heritage vessels such as Reginald M, Viator
and Warrnambool Life Saving Club boat will also be
worked on in the future.
Relocation of Visitor Centre into FHMV
Reception Area
Visitor Information Centre (VIC) services have been
affected considerably by the internet. The Victorian
Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) has highlighted
that services guests require continue to change as
research and information is sought online. Our VIC
has adapted and provides services including both
online and over-the-counter booking services –
the only VIC to offer this between Melbourne and
Adelaide. This has delivered over $3 million in direct
bookings to Warrnambool’s economy since the
service was introduced in 2007.
Consolidating the FHMV reception and VIC will
provide one entrance point for guests, allow us to
centralise staffing counters and provide a new space
for the restaurant Pippies by the Bay.
New Day and Night Experiences
We have just released an expression of interest
to companies that are experienced in delivering
multimedia and interpretative upgrades to heritagebased attractions. This first stage will allow us to test
the best operators in this specialised area.
Both day and night guest experiences will be
enhanced to better tell our Great Ocean Road region
stories. A key outcome will be the increase in the
number of night show experiences available so that
we can encourage repeat visitors to FHMV and
Warrnambool.
Want more information?
Keep up to date by signing up to Flagstaff Hill
Maritime Village e-newsletters at
www.flagstaffhill.com