Lake Eildon in the alpine region of Victoria will be redeveloped with a range of new tourism activities, under a masterplan for the area featuring designs by Cumulus Studio.
The man-made lake 150 kilometres north-east of Melbourne is home to the township of Bonnie Doon, which was made famous by the 1997 cult Australian film The Castle. The area will be transformed with new walking trails, fine dining and boutique accommodation options.
“Lake Eildon will soon be known for much more than its serenity,” said Mary-Anne Thomas, minister for regional development.
A key focus of the masterplan, prepared by Melbourne consultancy firm Urban Enterprise for Regional Development Victoria, is to attract a new type of visitor to the area – high-spending “lifestyle leaders” who are looking for new experiences and high-end facilities, as opposed to habitual visitors, who generally return to the same camping spot or holiday home and have low levels of expenditure. The authors note that the region has attracted almost no investment in visitor accommodation over the past 30 years and food and beverage tourism experiences are almost non-existent.
“Many people already know that Eildon is an amazing part of Victoria and with new investment to capitalize on its natural assets, that number will grow significantly,” said Jaclyn Symes, the member for Northern Victoria.
Concept design for the Lake Eildon Masterplan by Cumulus Studio.
The masterplan calls for new resort-style accommodation, the development of various nature-based precincts, a skyline touring route and investment in sewage infrastructure.
Cumulus has prepared designs for two nature-based precincts identified as priority projects in the plan.
The Mt Pinniger nature-based precinct would include an architectural lookout, a café/restaurant with views of the lake, a walking trail from Eildon township and a glamping development with 12 glamping tents.
It would be delivered a public-private project, with government expected provide $5.2 million out of a total $16.2 million for the walking trail and lookout structure.
A similar precinct at Fry Bay would feature eco-retreat accommodation overlooking the lake, with 20 pods and a general hub building; another lookout; walking trail from Goughs Bay township to the lookout and accommodation and mountain bike trails. It’s expected to cost $23.9 million, with government to contribute $1.9 million.
Another identified development opportunity is the creation of Indigenous cultural experiences. Lake Eildon sits within the traditional lands of the Taungurung people, and prior to the construction of the lake between 1915 and 1929, the land was a key meeting spot; significant Indigenous heritage remains within the lake.
“There is opportunity to develop a tour throughout the region that links key cultural heritage sites, such as Cathedral Ranges, Lake Eildon National Park, and Lake Eildon itself,” the masterplan reads. “This could include facilitated walks to sites, bush tucker experiences, camping with custodians, and on-water touring components.”
The state government in a statement said it was working with representatives from a range of organizations responsible for Lake Eildon to keep the plan moving forward.
“The projects in this masterplan have the potential to unlock significant tourism investment at Lake Eildon, attracting a wide range of visitors from across Australia,” said tourism minister Martin Pakula.
