Kangaroo Island visitor centre rises from the ashes

A $19 million Flinders Chase National Park Visitor Centre has opened after its predecessor was destroyed in the 2019/20 bushfire. See the photos

Isabella Kelly

Jul 05, 2024, updated Jul 05, 2024

Flinders Chase Naional Park Visitor Centre has officially opened today. Photo: supplied

The former Rocky River centre was burned out in the devastating bushfires in which two people died, 87 homes were destroyed and 60,000 livestock lost.

The new $19.5 million facility was built on a previously developed site, closer to the national park’s entrance, and using frames from bushfire-resistant timber.

Solar panels, batteries, electric vehicle charging stations and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems were all included in the design.

Photo supplied: State Government

Kangaroo Island’s tourism industry brought in $219 million in the year to March 2024, with more than 100,000 visiting Flinders Chase in 2022-2023.

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said the area had been “a key drawcard for international visitors”.

“This is a vital piece of tourism infrastructure that will be utilised by international, interstate and South Australian visitors,” she said.

The previous Flinders Chase Visitors Centre was destroyed by the 2019/20 Kangaroo Island bushfires. Photo: David Mariuz/AAP

The centre will be run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Opposition leader and David Speirs said it was “an incredible feeling to see this former Liberal Government project come to an end”.