- Geordie Bay accommodation upgrades will commence following April school holidays
- 51 units to be refurbished internally as well as balconies and courtyards
- Refurbishment of the Geordie Bay units are the second phase of the Rottnest Island Authority's accommodation upgrade program
Significant upgrades to self-contained units at Geordie Bay on Rottnest Island will commence in April 2024, as part of Rottnest Island Authority's commitment to upgrading its Stay Rottnest accommodation.
The program of work planned for Geordie Bay follows the upgrades to 48 units in South Thomson, which were completed in September 2022.
The accommodation refurbishment program is a key initiative outlined in the Rottnest Island Management Plan 2023-2028, which aims to renew and expand Stay Rottnest accommodation through a phased approach of upgrading self-contained units.
The next phase of the program is scheduled for 2025-26 with the refurbishment of Fay's Bay and Longreach Bay units.
A total of 51 units at Geordie Bay will receive upgrades including:
- modernised kitchens and bathrooms;
- refurbished bedrooms and living areas;
- installation of new flooring, fixtures and fittings
- replacement of ageing windows and doors; and
- upgrade of balconies and courtyard amenities including barbeques and seating.
The refurbished Geordie Bay units will re-open in time for the September 2024 school holidays.
The improvement of amenities across the island is continuing with significant ablution upgrades at Narrow Neck and the Settlement Mall scheduled to commence from April.
These continue the ablution upgrade program with Longreach Bay, Geordie Bay, The Basin, West End and the Visitors Centre already completed.
The Rottnest Island Management Plan 2023-28 is available online at https://ria.wa.gov.au/about-us/about-rottnest-island-authority/Vision-for-Rottnest-Island
Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Rottnest Island is a jewel in our State's tourism crown, coming off nearly 800,000 visitors in 2023.
"These upgrades will only bolster the island's status as a destination of choice for Western Australians and importantly, be finished in time for the September school holidays which generally marks the start of a busier period, as the weather starts to warm up.
"Rottnest Island remains a key priority for me as Tourism Minister, and we continue to invest and focus on how we ensure the island remains a destination of choice for travellers and locals.
"These refurbishments follow the recent completion of upgrades at the West End, which closed out over $33 million of joint State and Commonwealth investment in infrastructure improvements across the island at the Gateway, Settlement Mall, the Basin and Oliver Hill."
