A $90,000 lifeline has been thrown to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by the State Government and Warrnambool City Council to help it sail into a profitable future.
The money will fund a masterplan looking at how the ailing Warrnambool tourist attraction can be rejuvenated to become a must-see destination luring tourists to stay longer than just one-day trips from Melbourne.
Since being established in 1974 the village has lost its allure and in recent years has been struggling to maintain visitor numbers in the face of rising costs.
It attracts around 70,000 visitors a year, employs 35 people and has 120 regular community volunteers.
For years it has been lobbying unsuccessfully to be given maritime museum status.
Now the government and city council are united on injecting new life into it.
On Friday local MP and Major Projects Minister Denis Napthine announced $60,000 from the state while Warrnambool mayor Jacinta Ermacora announced $30,000 which together will pay for the preparation of an in-depth masterplan.
The plan is expected to be ready in draft form in about four months for community comment before the city council decides to apply for funding to make the proposed vision a reality.
Among the options will be adding more on-site accommodation including a school camp centre, expanding commercial boat building work and adding more interactive displays.
Flagstaff Hill manager Peter Abbott said all ideas would be explored.
"Rather than a piecemeal approach of doing bits and pieces, the whole operation will be looked at in one concept plan," he said.
"We need a more modern facility that appeals to more modern styles of tourism.
"It will stay on the same site footprint."
Dr Napthine described Flagstaff Hill as a beacon for south-west tourism.
"The challenge is to provide an incentive for tourists to stay longer in the south-west," he said.
"This masterplan will get all the ideas into a proper business evaluation to deliver the goods.
"It will also provide opportunities for the case to be made for more subsidies."
He said the government was keen to support efforts to make Flagstaff Hill bigger and better as one of the state's great tourist destinations.
Cr Ermacora said the notion of a maritime museum and new income opportunities would be explored.
"We want to promote the sensational views," she said.
Tourism Minister Louise Asher said the funding recognised the village's contribution to quality tourism in the region.
Email a friend