Puffing Billy Secures $8.2m for a New Discovery Centre

Victoria’s iconic Puffing Billy Railway secured $8.2 million in funding from the Andrews Labor Government for facility improvements including a new Discovery Centre to be built at Lakeside Station which will incorporate a café and space to host events and meetings.

The funding kicks off the first phase of the Puffing Billy Railway Master Plan 2017. Urban Enterprise provided input to the Master Plan. Specifically, a tourism, accommodation, and economic assessment identifying the broader tourism context and future opportunities for Puffing Billy Railway.

A significant tourist attraction for the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges region, Puffing Billy has been attracting record numbers of passengers, in turn delivering around $10.2 million to the economy, supporting 101 jobs, and engaging more than 900 volunteers.

Urban Enterprise is thrilled to have been part of this process, and we look forward to seeing further outcomes of the Master Plan. Construction is set to commence in 2018.

Image Source: Melbourne on the Move