The whale season will be over by the time Victor Harbor’s new visitor information centre (VIC) opens, with delays in redevelopment of the old SA Whale Centre.

The City of Victor Harbor closed the Whale Centre in December 2020 to enable renovation of the Railway Goods Shed that housed it.

Staff have been operating from the Coral Street Arts Space, where they were joined by the Visitor Services coordinator in February, who was relocated from the Causeway VIC site.

The $630,000 renovation includes installation of a lift, re-setting of stairs and hand rails, upgrading of toilet facilities and installation of fire safety equipment.

It was scheduled for completion in June this year but has been delayed by at least four months.

The council says significant works have been completed on the project, including demolition of the entry foyer, installation of new toilet facilities and a volunteer lunch room, enhancements to the existing whale and calf mural, replacement of roofing and installation of new insulation.

“While we were expecting to have this project completed by June 2021, complexities associated with the redevelopment of a state heritage building have meant that the Railway Goods Shed will require more works into the second-half of 2021.” 

A lot of work remains to be done before the VIC and SA Whale Centre can move in.

“It is expected that the VIC will be able to move into the Railway Goods Shed in October 2021, however ongoing intricacies associated with the redevelopment of a heritage building make it difficult to stipulate a specific completion date.

“While the works are being carried out, the VIC will continue to operate from the Coral Street Art Space.”

Whale Centre and VIC merchandise has not been sold during the renovation and consolidation period.

The council currently invests around $664,000 each year to operate the VIC and SA Whale Centre. It says consolidation will stop duplication of services and will save around $150,000 each year.

Some of these savings will be put towards employing a digital marketing specialist under the new VIC model.

Full details of the project are on the City of Victor Harbor website.