Visitors to Wonthaggi’s State Coal Mine State Park hear stories of life underground, often from descendants of the miners. Photo: Parks Victoria By Catherine Watson
THE Friends of the State Coal Mine are over the moon at today’s announcement of a $1.5 million bailout to restore Wonthaggi’s historic State Coal Mine and reopen underground tours.
Environment Minister Ingrid Stitt and Bass MP Jordan Crugnale visited the state park this afternoon to announce the funding before the Friends group and supporters, including former coal miners.
The funding will pay for vital maintenance and upgrade works on the track and carts that take visitors inside the mine, as well as support training for volunteers and Parks Victoria staff to safely operate the system.
THE Friends of the State Coal Mine are over the moon at today’s announcement of a $1.5 million bailout to restore Wonthaggi’s historic State Coal Mine and reopen underground tours.
Environment Minister Ingrid Stitt and Bass MP Jordan Crugnale visited the state park this afternoon to announce the funding before the Friends group and supporters, including former coal miners.
The funding will pay for vital maintenance and upgrade works on the track and carts that take visitors inside the mine, as well as support training for volunteers and Parks Victoria staff to safely operate the system.
Ms Stitt said the Wonthaggi community had a long and proud connection to the State Coal Mine. “I am delighted that we are making sure it remains a community treasure for years to come.”
“We are proud to support volunteers from Wonthaggi and the wider region that make the State Coal Mine the special place it is.”
Covid put a stop to the popular tours In 2020. By the time normal life was resuming last year, equipment failures meant the tours could not reopen. To add to the pain, the operators of the popular café shut up shop in January, severely affecting visitor numbers.
Without the tours and café, volunteers were also losing interest.
Amid fears that the state park would close altogether, more than 300 people attended a public meeting in April to push for the State Government to support the park.
Parks Victoria last month advertised for a new operator with the added incentive of functions in the picturesque park.
Friends spokeswoman Sheila Ormerod told the Post they were delighted with the announcement. “Wonthaggi really needs this,” she said. This is our only real tourist attraction.”
Underground walking tours at the mine began in 1982 and by 2020 there were over 10,000 visitors a year, from all over Australia and many other parts of the world.
Tourists rode a custom-made skip down the tunnel (named for former Wonthaggi mine manager Lou Storti, who played a crucial role in establishing the state park) where they heard stories of life underground from the Friends, many of them sons, daughters, grandchildren and neighbours of the miners.
As Parks Victoria notes on its website, this is the only historical coal mine experience in the Southern Hemisphere.
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale said the State Coal Mine was a much-loved destination which transports visitors back to a unique period in the region's history.
“We are proud to support volunteers from Wonthaggi and the wider region that make the State Coal Mine the special place it is.”
Covid put a stop to the popular tours In 2020. By the time normal life was resuming last year, equipment failures meant the tours could not reopen. To add to the pain, the operators of the popular café shut up shop in January, severely affecting visitor numbers.
Without the tours and café, volunteers were also losing interest.
Amid fears that the state park would close altogether, more than 300 people attended a public meeting in April to push for the State Government to support the park.
Parks Victoria last month advertised for a new operator with the added incentive of functions in the picturesque park.
Friends spokeswoman Sheila Ormerod told the Post they were delighted with the announcement. “Wonthaggi really needs this,” she said. This is our only real tourist attraction.”
Underground walking tours at the mine began in 1982 and by 2020 there were over 10,000 visitors a year, from all over Australia and many other parts of the world.
Tourists rode a custom-made skip down the tunnel (named for former Wonthaggi mine manager Lou Storti, who played a crucial role in establishing the state park) where they heard stories of life underground from the Friends, many of them sons, daughters, grandchildren and neighbours of the miners.
As Parks Victoria notes on its website, this is the only historical coal mine experience in the Southern Hemisphere.
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale said the State Coal Mine was a much-loved destination which transports visitors back to a unique period in the region's history.