On 3 December 2021, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula joined Member for Monbulk James Merlino and community representatives to unveil the state-of-the-art Puffing Billy Visitor Centre.
The Centre services thousands of visitors each week at Lakeside Station in the heart of the Dandenong Ranges, approximately 40 km south-east of Melbourne.
The Puffing Billy Railway (PBR), a narrow-gauge railway, first opened in 1900.
Originally running from Upper Ferntree Gully station, which was then the terminus of the broad gauge line from Melbourne, Puffing Billy was built to serve the local farming and timber harvesting communities.
It stopped running in 1953 after a landslide blocked the railway between Selby and Menzies Creek, and was formally closed by Victorian Railways in 1954.
But the community wasn’t happy about that and pushed back on the Government’s decision.
Led by Melbourne Grammar teacher Harold L. Hewett, a “small group of people” organized a rally of 400 people at Upper Ferntree Gully station on January 4, 1955.
As a result, the railway’s commissioners agreed to reopen the line between Upper Ferntree Gully and Belgrave for a trial period and the Puffing Billy Preservation Society was formed to run the railway indefinitely.
Puffing Billy today runs out of Belgrave station and is overseen by the Emerald Tourist Railway Board with involvement from the Preservation Society.
It has become a major tourist destination receiving over 500,000 visitors annually, with visitor numbers growing strongly over the last five years.
That growth prompted Victorian Government Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula and Member for Monbulk James Merlino to champion the idea that the centre be upgraded to meet the needs and expectations of domestic and international tourists.
So they facilitated a funding commitment of a $12.7 million from the Victorian State Government to develop a new visitor centre adjacent to Lakeside Station.
Additional funding was provided by the Australian Government.
Design Competition
An architectural design competition was run with five shortlisted proposals scrutinised through extensive formal public and internal consultation.
The design brief called for a cafe, commercial kitchen, visitor information services, interpretations, function rooms, staff offices, retail, educational facilities, and amenities.
This required a building larger than any that would have historically been located on the railway line.
Terroir won the competition in 2018 with the selection panel judging it as the best design to meet the needs and expectations of the diverse range of stakeholders that enjoy Puffing Billy today.
At the time Terroir said their strategy was to focus not on building a ‘novel’ visitor centre as a new attraction, but instead, focus on the existing railway line and platform to create a visitor experience anchored within the authentic sights, smells, and sounds of the railway.
“The decision was therefore made to insert a new geometry and spatial experience different to the smaller old stations, but one that still depended on the relation between visitors and the platform for its organizational logic,” noted the architects.
Construction
In the third quarter of 2019, Kane Constructions was awarded the Lump Sum contract to deliver the new Puffing Billy Railway Lakeside Discovery Centre.
They awarded Ace Contractors the External Works package that included:
- new station platform and edging
- hardscape and softscape surrounding the new building
- asphalt and concrete pavements
- timber decking
- concrete walls and edges
- street furniture
The $24.8 million Visitor Centre achieved Practical Completion in March 2021.
Opening
On 3 December 2021, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula joined Member for Monbulk James Merlino and community representatives to unveil the state-of-the-art Puffin Billy Visitor Centre.
The Lakeside Visitor Centre delivers premium facilities and attractions for tourists, day-trippers and school groups, honouring the rich history of the century-old heritage steam railway through a collection of steam-era artefacts and an immersive multimedia experience.
The Centre boasts a range of dining options featuring seasonal produce from the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges, as well as a hi-tech function space to host workshops, conferences, events and school excursions.
Daily train services return to the much-loved heritage railway, enticing visitors back to the Dandenong Ranges in an important boost to the local economy.
Managed by the Emerald Tourist Railway Board, the open-air steam train plays an important role in preserving Victoria’s railway history and delivers an unforgettable journey through scenic bushland that attracted more than 500,000 visitors annually prior to the pandemic.
Project Team
Architecture
Terroir
With offices in Australia and Denmark, Terroir is a collective of architects and urbanists dedicated to producing work that increases the connection between people and the places they inhabit.
Civil, Structural, and Services Engineering
Wood and Grieve Engineers
With nearly six decades of experience in key regional markets, WGE (recently acquired by Stantec) has numerous notable projects to its credit, including engineering services for the 60,000 seat, $700 million Optus Stadium in Perth.
Quantity Surveying
Rider Levett Bucknell
Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) is a global independent construction, property, and management consultancy, with a team of 500 people across Australia and New Zealand.
Project Management
AECOM
Aecom are planners, designers, engineers, consultants, and program and construction managers; delivering professional services spanning cities, transportation, buildings, water, new energy, and the environment.
Construction
Kane Constructions
Kane is a multi-award-winning and privately-owned commercial construction company active in all sectors of the industry.
With a turnover in excess of $1 billion and over 450 full-time employees, the firm operates throughout the east coast of Australia and overseas from offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, and Canberra.
Photography
Peter Bennetts
Peter’s work regularly features in the Australian publications Architecture Australia, Artichoke, Belle, Inside, AR, Monument, inside, and Vogue.
He is a frequent contributor to Wallpaper, Frame, Mark, Dwell, Domus, Casabella, and other international publications too.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2021 Terroir. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2021 Peter Bennetts. All Rights Reserved.
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