Shaping the Future of Arthurs Seat Eagle

Shaping the Future of Arthurs Seat Eagle

November 2024

Community connection is at the core of Arthurs Seat Eagle. Our gondola ride is a place where families, friends and nature enthusiasts connect with the natural landscape of the Mornington Peninsula.

Beyond this, we understand we contribute to the prosperity of the Mornington Peninsula, both through the employment of locals and by attracting visitors to experience and explore the region.

Given many of our team members live locally on the Mornington Peninsula, this shapes how we engage with and contribute to the community.

We are committed to offering a space everyone can enjoy for generations, which is why we are proposing family-friendly and sustainable improvements to the beloved Eagle.

With these goals front of mind, one of the first steps we took in considering upgrades to Arthurs Seat Eagle was to seek guidance from many experts including environmental, planning and economic assessment to identify both the opportunities presented by undertaking an upgrade and the issues we need to consider protecting the landscape and the quality of life of those living in and around the Eagle. Equally, we have aimed to engage and listen to the community.

Impact

Based on a preliminary assessment by Nature Advisory, we have received guidance on how to minimise and mitigate direct and indirect impacts on the native vegetation on the site.

Furthermore, current advice shows the initial estimate of economic benefit throughout the delivery of the project upgrade forecasts is in the order of $45.4 million in economic output, generating 113 jobs and $17.2 million in value during the construction phase.

Following the completion of the upgrade, economic input to the Mornington Peninsula is estimated to provide up to $23.6 in economic output, 121 jobs and $10.4 million in value added to the region per annum.

Community Input

Understanding and responding to the community's perspective on upcoming upgrades is a priority for us. To help shape our plans for upgrading Arthurs Seat Eagle, we conducted a community survey to gauge the community's thoughts. The survey provided valuable insights, including a desire for more observation and viewing spaces, resonating with our goal of creating immersive experiences that connect visitors to nature.

The survey findings also reflected a longing for cultural and exhibition spaces, family-friendly recreation, and enhanced protection of our green spaces in collaboration with Parks Victoria.

Additional feedback included the incorporation of sustainability initiatives, such as designing with the natural terrain, which has been identified by Arthurs Seat Eagle as a key inclusion to be realised in the upgrades’ masterplan.

The initial findings were presented at an in-person community engagement session in early October, where locals could share ideas, ask questions, and meet the project team behind the upgrades including Arthurs Seat Eagle’s CEO, Matthew Mulkearns, Ben Daly from Tract Consultants and Andrew Norbury from project architects Metier3.

Community Feedback

It is clear the protection of the environment and the consideration of its inhabitants, both human and animal alike, is a key concern amongst the community. Furthermore, preserving natural beauty, enhancing the facilities, such as parking, and introducing low-impact activities are areas the community wants the project team to address.

Community members' interest in sustainability is also evident. These issues align closely with our vision of minimising the upgrade’s environmental footprint while enhancing the Arthurs Seat Eagle as an iconic Mornington Peninsula landmark.

We want to ensure that Arthurs Seat Eagle’s evolution is inclusive and community-driven, so we have shared documents from the session, including the presentation materials, and responded to follow-up emails.

We are also continuing discussions with community members and stakeholder groups to address areas of concern and working with them to create positive outcomes. To assist this process, we have created an online suggestions box that allows community members to share their thoughts beyond formal meetings and provide an opportunity to pose further questions about the upgrades.

Our Vision

The vision behind the proposed upgrades to Arthurs Seat Eagle honours the history of the location and attraction while embracing positive change. Enhancements like cultural spaces, family-friendly amenities, and green space preservation will add layers of value for our visitors and locals alike.

We envisage building a bright future for the Arthurs Seat Eagle – one where locals and visitors alike can connect, create memories, and enjoy the wonders of Arthurs Seat, knowing that their voices have helped shape this journey. 

As we progress with the upgrades, we look forward to providing further updates via our social media channels, website, e-newsletter and engaging more strongly with the community.

By staying engaged we hope to create a vibrant future for Arthurs Seat Eagle that celebrates the natural beauty, community spirit, and sustainability values of the Mornington Peninsula.

An exciting new chapter: Revitalising the Arthurs Seat Eagle

The Arthurs Seat Eagle has officially submitted our masterplan proposal to the Victorian Planning Authority, marking the start of an exciting new chapter.

The proposed $25 million upgrade will be designed to enhance visitor experiences and ensure the park is accessible for all to enjoy the spectacular views of Port Philip Bay. Proposed features include a new observation tower, function centre, Luge Ride attraction, and an experiential interpretive centre accustomed to celebrating the natural wonders of the Mornington Peninsula.

The featured upgrades focus on the inclusivity and accessibility of the park, catering to customers with additional needs, including both the elderly and youth. The additions will enhance the experience for our 260,000 annual visitors and transform the Arthurs Seat Eagle into a year-round tourism destination.

Ahead of submitting the proposal, we sat down with our CEO, Matthew Mulkearns, to discuss the planning process and consultation phase for the upgrades and how it will enhance the vibrant future of the Arthurs Seat Eagle for many years to come.

“The feedback we sought from the community has indicated a desire for both observation and viewing facilities to showcase the most beautiful aspects of our surroundings. The community also indicated a longing for cultural and exhibition spaces, family-friendly recreation, and the enhanced protection of our precinct’s abundant green space in collaboration with Parks Victoria,” said Matthew.

The local community also voiced the importance of sustainability, with initiatives that worked with the fall of the terrain as a key consideration of the masterplan.

“Central to our vision for the Arthurs Seat Eagle is to introduce more sustainability initiatives to minimise our environmental footprint and introduce additional, low-impact activities. Our goal is to further enhance the Eagle’s position as an iconic Mornington Peninsula landmark,” continued Matthew.

By bettering the offerings available, the Arthurs Seat Eagle can provide opportunities for year-round visitation and enhanced customer dwell time. The expanded operations will generate 113 new jobs for the local community and the influx of new patrons will increase tourism visitation to local businesses across the Mornington Peninsula. 

The upgrades are expected to commence in late 2025 as part of the first phase in revitalising the Arthurs Seat Eagle as a premier tourist attraction in Victoria.

Arthurs Seat Eagle throughout the years: The evolution of an iconic tourist destination

The Arthurs Seat Eagle is on the precipice of an exciting new chapter, having submitted plans to expand our onsite offering for the enjoyment of new and existing visitors. In anticipation of this evolution, we are reflecting on the site's history as a place of gathering and appreciating the uniquely spectacular views of Port Phillip Bay.

Originally referred to as 'Wonga' by the Boonwurrung people, the Arthurs Seat was an important place for gathering and sacred ceremonies, including births and initiations. The Arthurs Seat State Park recognises its position within an Aboriginal cultural landscape on the traditional lands of the Boonwurrung people and their ongoing roles in the stewardship of the country.  As such, the State Park holds strong connections to land and water, ensuring this association is reflected and will always be acknowledged throughout Arthurs Seat Eagle’s operations.

During the early days of European exploration of Australia, while surveying Port Phillip Bay, acting Lieutenant John Murray noted the hill's resemblance to a site in Edinburgh, Scotland, and applied the name that is widely used today. Navigator Captain Matthew Flinders was the first European to climb Arthurs Seat, acknowledging its elevation made it favourable for observation purposes, due to its stretching views across the Mornington Peninsula.

In the early twentieth century, Flinders Shire Council recognised the opportunity to invite tourism to the area, owing to the unique beauty of its natural attributes. The Garden of the Moon was opened in 1931, offering a host of attractions such as a dance hall, camera obscura, giant telescopes, a swimming pool, donkey rides, and a wishing well. They later opened a lookout tower in 1934, providing the public with its first access to the incredible views throughout the Mornington Peninsula.

Catering to the growing popularity of Arthurs Seat and the success of the lookout tower, a chairlift ascending the hill was opened in 1960. The chairlift provided visitors the opportunity to pass above the bushland of the State Park and reach the 314-metre summit, previously only accessible by car.

However, due to its outdated infrastructure, the original Arthurs Seat chairlift closed in 2006, which saw a decline in tourism to the hill’s summit. After being shut down for several years, the chairlift was removed and replaced by a modern Doppelmayr ride, an innovative tourism transport system now known as the Arthurs Seat Eagle.

Upon learning the Arthurs Seat Eagle was reopening to the public in December 2016, locals vocalised their excitement, hoping the revived cable car would bring joy to future generations and become one of the Peninsula’s greatest attractions once again.

Known for its panoramic bird’s eye view of Port Phillip Bay, the attraction's name plays homage to the native Wedge-tailed Eagle that inhabits Arthurs Seat State Park, symbolising the “soaring flight” visitors would experience during the gondola ride.

The Arthurs Seat Eagle as it stands, offers all visitors the opportunity to experience panoramic views, with a combination of enclosed and open cabins catering to people of different mobility levels.

The current-day Eagle is one of Victoria’s premier tourist attractions, welcoming visitors from around the globe. Operating with 34 gondolas, visitors are transported up to the summit surrounded by the breathtaking views of Port Phillip Bay. At the peak, visitors can enjoy a taste of the Mornington Peninsula whilst taking in the scenery at The Eagle Café.

As Arthurs Seat Eagle expands into the future, we want to continue to provide the best experience for visitors while reinforcing the Mornington Peninsula as a key tourism destination in Victoria. The upgrade will enhance and expand on the aspects enjoyed by the community, providing more viewing opportunities, increased accessibility, and improved community engagement by including more open gathering spaces.

To learn more about the future of the Arthurs Seat Eagle and stay updated with upgrade news, visit the link here Upgrade Works — Arthurs Seat Eagle (aseagle.com.au)