Upgrades are continuing at Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, with projects to improve the visitor experience, conserve heritage and cultural values, and celebrate Eastern Maar culture here at ‘Koroitj’.

These upgrades are being delivered in partnership between Parks Victoria and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.

Read below for information on trail improvements, upgrades for the cultural danceground, new signage, the visitor centre, and the toilet and amenities building.

Trail improvements

Thousands of people come to Tower Hill to explore the landscape and see some of Australia's best-loved wildlife.  

To keep visitors out and about, trail works are now underway. These include the Journey to the Last Volcano walk, which is having narrow sections widened, steep spots made more accessible, and drainage, ruts and potholes fixed to ensure safe access for emergency vehicles. 

The Lake Edge Track is having a realignment and revegetation works to help protect some sensitive sections of the landscape while also connecting walkers to a new viewing platform.  

Paths and landscaping around the Visitor Centre and amenities building are being improved, better connecting car parking to accessible tracks. There have also been minor works along the Peak Climb, which takes walkers to the highest point of the reserve. 

Below: An illustrative example of the viewing platform on the Lake Edge Track. 

Cultural danceground

The reserve’s cultural danceground is being upgraded, including with a new shelter that can be used by members of the Eastern Maar community during events and celebrations.  

The layout of the danceground, its surface and seating are being improved, along with connecting paths and landscaping to improve the approach and surrounds.  

Below: Illustrative image of the danceground shelter. 

Visitor information

To enrich the visitor experience and help visitors learn more about the area, a project is underway to refresh interpretive signage at the reserve. 

This project will add signs and other interpretive features about the significant cultural heritage of the landscape, its volcanic geography and ecological values. 

The design, colours and language will recognise and celebrate Eastern Maar's connection to Koroitj, the indigenous Gunditjmara name for Tower Hill.  

Visitor centre conservation

The conservation works on the Robin Boyd-designed visitor centre are now largely complete.  

Works delivered have included restoration of the building’s roof, its timber windows and doors, roof beams, re-pointing of stonework and the sealing of its floor. Lighting, heating and cooling have also been upgraded. 

Along with the nearby toilet and amenities building, the visitor centre project is expected to be completed in the coming month or two. 
 

Toilet and amenities building

Works to upgrade the existing toilets building at the main visitor area are nearly finished. 

These works are modernising the facilities will an all-abilities design, helping make visits to this special reserve easier and more accessible.  

Below: Upgrades underway on the toilet and amenities building.

These projects are being funded through a $6.7 million Victorian Government investment in the reserve.

These upgrades follow development of the Tower Hill Activation and Linkages Plan, which was finalised with community and stakeholder consultation in late 2021. 

For more information visit www.parks.vic.gov.au/projects/western-victoria/tower-hill-revitalisation