BIG4 Castlemaine Gardens Holiday Park has opened its Hub Workspace facility, a work and meeting space for guests and groups.
The innovative new facility received tourism grant funding in 2023-2024 under the Australian Government's Caravan Parks Grant Program via Austrade. The program is providing $10 million for 112 park upgrade projects across Australia.
Today's launch was attended by the Federal Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters MP.
"It's exciting to see the opening of this particular project," Ms Chesters said. "It will be a support for people needing or wanting to work while on the road or on holidays as well as providing space for meetings and events for park guests and the local community. It's an important enhancement to the tourism offering in Castlemaine and the surrounding area."
BIG4 Castlemaine owner Claire Height said the new space is a fully-equipped and accessible work and meeting facility for use by adult guests and groups.
"Particular care has been taken to ensure the facility was designed to harmonise with the trees and parkland surroundings of the park," she said. "If fact, we're calling it our office in the trees. It's a high quality, flexible space where guests can manage assignments and projects while on the road but in a relaxing holiday retreat environment."
The facility's business center fittings include accessible PowerPoints, a Zoom Room, desks, lounge area, kitchenette, an accessible bathroom, and a deck with views across the park. It can be configured to accommodate meetings and events for between 10 and 40 people.
Ms Height said the Hub Workspace was developed in response to the "work-from-anywhere" travel trend that emerged during and following the pandemic and which is delivering major benefits for the tourism industry overall.
"The business nomad is now an important market. People want high quality work environment options while they're on the road or so they can holiday for longer. They also want engagement and interaction with like-minded travelers. Our new hub delivers this."
The Hub Workspace continues BIG4 Castlemaine's focus on bringing quality accommodation options and guest experiences to Castlemaine. In recent years it has introduced glamping to the town's range of holiday accommodation options, with luxury Bell Glamping Tents, Safari Tents and a Glamtainer now on offer. It won Gold in the 2021 Victorian Tourism Awards, Holiday Park category and Silver in the 2023 Victorian Tourism Awards.
Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, said the Australian Government's $10 million Caravan Parks Grant program was supporting 112 parks across the country to upgrade or create new visitor facilities.
"Caravan parks play a critical role in providing quality, affordable accommodation for families, budget-conscious travelers and visitors exploring the many spectacular attractions across regional Australia," Minister Farrell said.
"With the help of these grants, park owners have been delivering a range of innovative upgrades like the Hub workspace, which are delivering for tourists and local communities.
"The 'Office in the Trees' is an exciting project, offering visitors the opportunity to combine the family holiday with remote work in wonderful locations like Castlemaine."
The Caravan Park Grants Program is part of the Government's $48 million package of new funding to support Australia's tourism and travel businesses in attracting and up-skilling workers, supporting quality tourism products, and delivering infrastructure upgrades.
