Official opening of Heritage Trails Lodge in Margaret River

7/2/97

The popular Heritage Trails of Margaret River will be a feature for visitors to the region who stay at the new Heritage Trails Lodge, officially opened by Tourism Minister Norman Moore today.

To celebrate the bicentenary in 1988, 95 heritage trails were established in Western Australia with the help of a Federal Government grant.

With an estimated 25 per cent of the South-West Region's visitors spending time visiting forest areas as a recreational activity, the Lodge was perfectly positioned to take advantage of this attraction.

Mr Moore said the property, which backed on to the three Margaret River heritage trails, captured the unique beauty of the area right on the visitors' doorstep.

"With the use of local timber and unusual bark hand made furniture, the style and design of the Lodge is certainly in keeping with the area's character," he said.

"When you consider that more than 1.4 million visitors inject around $200 million into the local economy each year, the preservation of the uniqueness of the area as development progresses is a major consideration."

Mr Moore said the tourism industry was working in partnership with the Government to promote sustainable tourism and to protect the wonderful and diverse natural attractions around the State.

Heritage Trails Lodge featured nine luxury suites with spa and king size beds, and one suite especially designed for the disabled.

The owners, former teachers Maxine and Hugh Beckingham, were to be congratulated on their achievement, Mr Moore said.

Media contact: Diana Russell-Coote 321 1444