Volcano Discovery Centre receives investment for upgrades

The Penshurst Volcanoes Discovery Centre, located in southwest Victoria at the foot of Mount Rouse, a dormant volcano, is being supported by the Victorian Government to deliver facility upgrades that will help draw more visitors to the region and support local business.

The Victorian Government has supported the Penshurst Volcanoes Discovery Centre upgrade with an investment of $290,000 through its Regional Tourism Investment Fund. Southern Grampians Shire Council also contributed $40,000 to the project.

The upgrades include a revitalised education space, refurbished internal displays, and new outdoor geological interpretation areas and learning spaces.

The upgrades and new facilities will support the centre to provide school groups and visitors with a richer understanding of how volcanoes are formed, their geology, their history in the Greater Hamilton area, and how the region’s First Peoples interacted with volcanoes.

Penshurst is at the centre of the Newer Volcanics Province, the third largest volcanic plain on earth, which stretches over an area of 15,000 square kilometres and contains over 400 small volcanoes and volcanic vents.

The refurbishments at the Penshurst Volcanoes Discovery Centre will help encourage visitors to explore more of a region steeped in geological and cultural significance, including the nearby Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO world-heritage site.

Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Dennis Heslin shared “we are extremely grateful to have received funding to give a much-needed boost to this very special institution. The Southern Grampians region is filled with ancient natural wonders that surprise and fascinate us. These upgrades will give us a chance to share the knowledge and stories we have with a wider audience.”

For more information about the Penshurst Volcanoes Discovery Centre, visit volcanoesdiscoverycentre.com.au