The new Visitor Information Centre, Cafe, museum and cinema complex is coming together on the Lake Benalla Foreshore.
The Victorian Government is backing the redevelopment, which aims to attract thousands of visitors to the rural city and create local jobs.
Victorian Regional Development Minister Harriet Shing visited Benalla on Friday, March 10, to view how projects backed by the government’s $5.5 million investment were transforming the area.
“Benalla is a great place to live and is fast becoming a regional centre for art and culture,” Ms Shing said.
“These redevelopments will give visitors more reasons to visit the town, boosting the local economy.”
The redeveloped Visitor Information Centre is set to open in June along with an upgraded Benalla Costume and Kelly Museum and a new 64-seat cinema, which includes a café and outdoor dining area overlooking Lake Benalla.
The refurbished Benalla Costume and Kelly Museum will create more space for the popular Ned Kelly sash and prison cell, and other historic memorabilia, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
The visitor centre works complement recent Benalla foreshore projects, including the redeveloped Benalla Splash Park, which opened in 2020, and upgrades to public toilets, CBD streetscapes, car parks, playground and the foreshore boardwalk.
Benalla Rural City Mayor Bernie Hearn said she was excited to see the projects take shape.
“The Costume and Kelly Museum is an important cultural icon in Benalla and this investment brings more services together to make the experience an even better one for visitors and locals,” Cr Hearn said.
“Its fantastic, I can’t believe our plans have finally come to fruition. The cinema (goers) are going to be absolutely blown away with how fantastic it looks.
“To be able to eat in this cafe area and look out on our beautiful lake is just amazing.”
State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said the government was also supporting an upgrade to the Benalla Art Gallery with works set to begin later this year.
“We’re backing the transformation of Benalla Lake’s foreshore precinct, supporting local jobs and ensuring it remains a popular tourism destination,” Ms Symes said.