Bringing more visitors to beautiful Benalla
29/03/2023The Victorian Government is backing the development of Benalla Lake’s foreshore to attract more visitors and grow jobs in the town, with work underway on the visitor centre, Ned Kelly Museum and a new cinema.
Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing visited the town to view progress on the redevelopment of the Visitor Information Centre, supported by $500,000 from the Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund.
The site is expected to open in June and will include the redevelopment of the existing centre, along with the Benalla Costume and Kelly Museum, which are located together in a heritage listed building. A new 64-seat cinema will be relocated and developed at the site along with a café and outdoor dining area.
The redevelopment includes an expanded and enhanced layout to provide a better experience for visitors and locals. An internal building fit-out of the Benalla Costume and Kelly Museum will improve the display space for the Ned Kelly sash and prison cell, and other historic memorabilia which attracts thousands of visitors each year.
The café and outdoor dining area will overlook Lake Benalla and create a relaxed dining experience.
The visitor centre works complement the broader Benalla foreshore project, supported by a Victorian Government grant of $2 million through the Building Works Program. The foreshore development will be completed this year and features several upgrades, including a new climbing boulder playground, seating, lighting and car parking.
These projects build on the completed Benalla Splash Park, which features fountains, water jets and a family-friendly area, along with an all ages and abilities playground.
The Victorian Government is backing a further project on Benalla’s foreshore with a $3 million upgrade to the Benalla Art Gallery, supported through the Regional Cultural Infrastructure Fund. Works will begin on the upgrade later this year, delivering an improved gallery space, café and new storage facility.
Since 2015, the Victorian Government has invested more than $700 million in its flagship Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund - supporting around 13,000 jobs and delivering 1,000 projects.
It is part of the Government’s record investment of more than $36 billion in rural and regional Victoria since 2015. For more information go to Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.