$7 million upgrade for Budj Bim heritage site
22/07/2022One of Victoria’s most treasured cultural sites within the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape will receive a state-of-the-art upgrade, thanks to a $7 million investment from the Victorian Government.
Support from the Victorian Budget 2022/23 will go towards the development of world-class visitor experiences at Tae Rak.
Funded over two years, the project will deliver an education space to encourage visitors to learn about the Gunditjmara people – the Traditional Owners of the Budj Bim region.
This project will support up to 11 jobs during construction.
The project strongly aligns with the strategic pillars of the Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan, acknowledging the need to strengthen the tourism offering of First Peoples' led experiences and nature-based attractions to attract more visitors to regional Victoria.
The funding builds on the $12 million provided by the Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund in establishing Budj Bim as a cultural tourism destination.
Identified as part of the updated Budj Bim masterplan, the new experiences will complement the Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre. The Aquaculture Centre is also strengthening and maintaining the Gunditjmara community’s connections to the traditional practice of kooyang (eel) farming and smoking for future generations.
The Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre opened to the public on 1 July 2022.
The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape has formally been recognised on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is the only Australian World Heritage site listed exclusively for its Aboriginal cultural values.