Project Information
Busselton’s 152-year-old, 1.8 kilometre long jetty has, for the past 20+ years, been managed by a community run, not-for-profit organisation. Through foresight and passion, local group Busselton Jetty Inc., has overseen the creation of an iconic underwater observatory that today attracts more than 75,000 visitors a year. The observatory generates the income to fund the maintenance of the entire jetty precinct which attracts 400,000 annual visitors.
Recognising the current observatory’s finite life and capacity limitations, as well as an opportunity to attract many more visitors to Busselton, Busselton Jetty Inc. engaged Oceanis to assist it plan for the future to design a new observatory and tourism destination concept that would build on the success of the current observatory. The design concept work was supplemented with a feasibility study conducted by Oceanis.
With a direction for the design to be an inspiring, world-class experience that would take advantage of its unique marine environment, the scheme developed by Oceanis retained the iconic blue shoreline buildings with new internal experiences, along with a new much larger elliptical observatory adjacent to the existing observatory at the ocean end of the jetty.
With a capacity for 180 people, three full-viewing floors and capacity for immersive under ocean experiences even in poor visibility, the proposed new observatory scheme was designed around an enhanced underwater reef to protect and preserve the natural marine environment, conceived by our marine biology specialists to create even more spectacular viewing.
Oceanis’ innovative design skills were instrumental in assisting Busselton Jetty Inc. towards their development of a spectacular new design.
Observations and experience from other aquatic based tourism facilities around the world, including many ideas and activities that other aquarium, urban park, zoological and entertainment industries use to create memorable and iconic experiences, were incorporated into the concept.
Construction is currently on hold as Busselton Jetty Inc. moves forward with the next phase of conceptualizing their fundraising initiatives. With a vision to enhance WA’s major icon at the end of the longest tourist jetty in the Southern Hemisphere, the future holds exciting possibilities for this landmark project.
Image: Busselton Jetty Image: Busselton Jetty
