Arthurs Seat Eagle lodges plans for luge ride and observation tower

Victorian attraction the Arthurs Seat Eagle has lodged plans for a $25 million upgrade program that would add a downhill luge ride, a 25-metre tall observation tower and an immersive light and sound show to the attraction.

Aiming to transform the Mornington Peninsula cable car ride, owners Peter Gunn and Simon McKeon are backing a development proposal lodged with the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) that will include the luge ride attraction, new observation tower at the ride’s Arthurs Seat summit and an experiential sound, vision and light show showcasing the peninsula at its Dromana base, about 300 metres below.

Arthurs Seat Eagle Chief Executive, Matthew Mulkearns told the Australian Financial Review “the clear feedback from locals and visitors is that they want more things to do.”

Set to be the most high profile new feature, the luge ride will take patrons on winding route through the bushland below the gondolas.

Mulkearns said the luge ride would be a sustainable offering similar to the recently opened Alpine Coaster at Thredbo Alpine Resort.

The observation tower would be built at the highest point at Arthurs Seat and would offer “quite spectacular” 360-degree views of Port Phillip Bay and Western Port Bay, Mr Mulkearns said.

Construction is expected to begin in about in 2025, should the masterplan be approved by the VPA.

The project will be completed in the stages, with the experiential centre at the base to be built first and the whole development taking about three years.

The Arthurs Seat Eagle gondola opened in December 2016 at a cost of $20 million, replacing an earlier chairlift system that was built in 1960 by the late Czech-born engineer Dr Vladimir Hajek, and which operated until 2006.

Despite excitement around its opening, Arthurs Seat Eagle racked up a series of losses before it fell victim to the late-2019 and early-2020 bushfires then COVID-19 restrictions.

After a dispute between shareholders, the business was placed into administration in March 2020 before Gunn and McKeon emerged as co-owners.

Images: The planned luge ride at the Arthurs Seat Eagle would resemble the recently opened Alpine Coaster at Thredbo (top) and the planned observation tower (below).