Flagstaff Hill Master Plan
Flagstaff Hill Master Plan
What is the Flagstaff Hill Master Plan?
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has been part of the Warrnambool community for the past 37 years. To remain a viable attraction and to maintain the rich regional heritage at the site we must continually review the direction of future development at the site.
The Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village Master Plan provides us with the opportunity to review our current operations, look at the sites use and plan for a viable exciting future.
We seek to develop a master plan that first reviews the sites best use and how it fits into the larger tourism offering within Warrnambool, the Great Ocean Road and Victoria.
Once future use of the site is determined the project aims to develop a Tourism and Cultural Asset Investment Strategy with an Implementation Plan that will:
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Identify a program of works to provide a nationally significant visitor experience for guests to the Great Ocean Road and Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village.
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Identify new development opportunities that explores the revenue potential, highlights investment potential and infrastructure needs.
The study should provide a positive focus for the Warrnambool community that provides a basis for leveraging increased development, investment, visitation and yield whilst enhancing the cultural experiences that the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village can provide to the Great South Coast.
How Can You Get Involved?
Have Your Say
The Project Group has worked through to a model that we are seeking public comment on.
CLICK HERE to be taken to the Online Survey
Or Download A Printed Version To Mail or Email Back
Flagstaff Hill Recent Awards
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Winner Victorian Tourism Awards - Best Tourist Attraction 2007, 2008, 2009
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Winner Victorism Tourism Awards - Best New Product Lighthouse Lodge 2010
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Winner Australian Accommodation Association - Best New Accommodation in Australia 2011 Lighthouse Lodge
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Museum Australia (Victoria) Museum Award - Community Engagement 2009
Current Operating Environment
The current operating environment for regional heritage based attractions is challenging with a number of significant issues effecting the future viability and performance of tourism and cultural assets.
Some of these issues include and potential opportunities:
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State Government subsidies to operate potentially competing attractions - Introduction of free entry to Parks Victoria sites in 2010, and the 1st July 2011 free entry to Melbourne Zoo sites through school holidays, as well subsidies that equate to $38 per visitor to provide subsidised entry to Melbourne Museum sites;
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Tourism's regional dispersal decline - Ongoing declines in regional tourism markets across Australia and the strong demand for Australians to travel overseas for holidays;
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Increased OH&S requirements placed upon educational groups that restrict the ability of teachers to have students engage in off campus educational experiences;
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Transportation Costs - FSH isolation from an accredited group accommodation facility (nearest school camp is 25km's away in Port Fairy) increases costs of these groups to visit and take in the educational programs operated. Again state government subsidies operate to assist Melbourne based museums. The Green Star Program provides free travel for students who attend ScienceWorks Melbourne, no such subsidy program operates for regional museums/attractions.
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Victoria has a very rich maritime heritage but currently lacks a state supported maritime museum. FSH has established a range of new partnerships that have the potential to expand the curatorial role and use of Flagstaff Hill as base for the storage and display of the state maritime collection that is currently held by Heritage Victoria.
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Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village also needs to review its offer in the environment of a potential state government operated site at Loch Ard Gorge that will act as an interpretative centre for the Great Ocean Road and the wreck of the Loch Ard.
Guests to museums have developing requirements to ensure they remain engaged and stimulated by a museum visit. Maritime Museums, particularly one located on the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria such as Flagstaff Hill, need to remain aware of these emerging trends to ensure they provide an experience that exceeds the modern museum guests requirements.
Friends of Flagstaff Hill Volunteers
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village is supported by the around 150 volunteers that provide a a range of services as well as enjoying the village community and social interaction between volunteers, staff and guests to the village.
If after completing the Online Survey you would like to join as Flagstaff Hill as a volunteer then please check the volunteer page - CLICK HERE