Millewa-Mallee Tourism Feasibility and Business Case (Neds Corner Station)

The Millewa-Mallee Tourism Feasibility and Business Case for Neds Corner Station is more than just a tourism initiative—it’s about healing Country and creating a space where visitors can connect deeply with the land and its traditional custodians. Situated on 30,000 hectares of ancestral Ngintait land, this project envisions transforming Victoria’s largest freehold conservation property into a thriving hub of Indigenous-led tourism. By developing a series of culturally immersive experiences, the initiative fosters a deeper understanding and respect for Ngintait culture while generating meaningful economic and social benefits for the community. This aligns with broader strategic priorities to enhance First Nations tourism, promote environmental sustainability, and support regional economic growth.

Key challenges for this project included ensuring the cultural sensitivity and sustainability of the tourism offerings, as well as the need to generate significant economic benefits for the Ngintait community. TRC Tourism addressed these challenges by collaborating closely with the First People of the Millewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (FPMMAC) and Trust for Nature, ensuring that the tourism products developed—such as Eco Ranger tours, cultural workshops, and nature-based experiences—were deeply rooted in Indigenous knowledge and practices. The staged approach to implementation, involving detailed design and planning, further ensured that the project would be both culturally appropriate and economically viable.

The feasibility study revealed promising results, projecting an increase in visitor numbers and significant increase in revenues as staged new investments are developed. The project is also expected to create up to 14 direct jobs by year ten. Recommendations to the client emphasised the importance of continued partnership development, securing investment, and strategic marketing to fully realise the tourism potential of Neds Corner Station while honouring and preserving its cultural and environmental significance.