The new Flinders Chase National Park Visitor Centre, located at Karatta on Kangaroo Island’s wild west coast, has been officially opened.

It replaces the former Rocky River centre destroyed in the 2019/20 bushfires.

The $19.5 million ecologically sustainable, fire resistant facility will be a gateway to some of Kangaroo Island’s most iconic attractions, including nearby Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch.

The centre will be run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and includes a café and souvenir shop.

Interactive displays allow visitors to learn about the park, including the plants and animals, spectacular landscapes, rock formations and bushwalking trails.

To reduce the risk of possible future fires affecting the new centre, it has been built on a previously developed site closer to the park’s entrance, with frames made from bushfire-resistant Australian timbers.

The design integrates technologies including solar panels, batteries, electric vehicle charging stations and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems.

Kangaroo Island’s tourism industry contributed $219 million in the year to March 2024. It was ranked the second must-visit destination in Lonely Planet’s global 2024 Top Regions Hotlist.

Deputy Premier Susan Close says the Kangaroo Island community has rallied to help the rebuild happen.

“This vital piece of visitor infrastructure sets a new benchmark for sustainability, including its ability to minimise energy use and filter waste and stormwater on-site.

“This will not only stimulate tourism on the island, it will also provide locals with new amenities they can enjoy with family and friends all year round.

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison says Kangaroo Island is a key drawcard for international visitors, with the region attracting the highest international visitor spend outside of Adelaide.

“Latest data shows international visitors spent $35 million in Kangaroo Island in the year to March 2024, contributing to the region’s total visitor expenditure of $219 million. 

“Tourism is a major employer on Kangaroo Island, with 35 per cent of jobs directly related to tourism.

“The Flinders Chase National Park is iconic to Kangaroo Island, with more than 100,000 people visiting the park annually.

“It is wonderful to see private and public infrastructure coming back bigger and better following the devastating fires.”

The Karatta site is also home to the $2 million Flinders-Baudin Research Centre, a collaborative project between the University of Adelaide and the Department for Environment and Water. 

The research centre has a laboratory, admin area and accommodation for nine people, and is for ecological and conservation research.

Marine content displayed in the centre was a collaboration between the Department for Environment and Water and Parks Australia.