Barwon Heads Caravan Park has opened seven new cabins as part of an investment intended to expand accommodation options and support regional tourism in Victoria’s Bellarine region.
The four two-bedroom cabins and three one-bedroom deluxe cabins, including one accessible cabin, were unveiled at the caravan park on September 17. The project was supported through the Regional Tourism Investment Fund and is expected to attract more than 4,500 additional visitors to the area.
Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant said the new accommodation would provide visitors with additional options while contributing to the local visitor economy.
“Barwon Heads is a much-loved destination, and these new cabins will give visitors even more reason to stay, explore and enjoy the region,” she told the Geelong Independent.
“This is a great investment in the local visitor economy, providing more accommodation options for tourists while supporting local businesses, jobs and the broader community.”
The cabins were constructed offsite before being transported to Barwon Heads Caravan Park. The development is part of a broader project at the park, with two existing one-bedroom cabins also scheduled to be upgraded in 2027.
For caravan park operators, the project illustrates how adding fixed accommodation can be used to broaden a site’s product mix beyond traditional caravan and camping stays.
The inclusion of an accessible cabin also gives the park an opportunity to cater to a wider range of visitors, while the offsite construction approach may provide an alternative for operators looking to add accommodation with less onsite construction activity.
Barwon Coast Committee of Management Chair Peter Farrell said revenue generated by the new cabins would support ongoing coastal management.
“The revenue the cabins generate will be reinvested into caring for our coast,” he said.
“These new cabins provide an exciting investment in sustainable and accessible tourism, allowing more people to experience this special part of our coast.”
The project also incorporates First Peoples influence through consultation with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and artist Billy-Jay O’Toole. O’Toole’s artwork appears on the cabins’ glass sliding doors, while Wadawurrung artwork is incorporated throughout the broader precinct.
The new cabins add accommodation capacity at a time when regional tourism projects are increasingly combining visitor accommodation with broader local economic and community objectives.
For operators considering similar investments, the Barwon Heads project also highlights several factors to consider, including accessibility, accommodation diversification, potential visitor growth, construction methods, and how additional revenue can support ongoing site or destination management.
