Birthday booked

By Tania Martin
DANDENONG Ranges Tourism (DRT) celebrated its latest milestone last week – its 10th birthday.
Since its humble beginnings more than 10 years ago, DRT has grown from a small information service for tourists to an integral link to the growth of tourism in the Dandenongs.
Although the service was first started in 1993, it wasn’t until 1998 that it really made its mark.
In 1994 DRT established its own small section at the Belgrave Art Stockade in Monbulk Road.
But for many involved, the centre didn’t really start until 1998, when the then manager of Poets Lane Receptions, David Staughton, decided it was time to set up a dedicated tourism information centre.
The now popular DRT Information Centre was then set up at its current site at 1211 Burwood Highway, Upper Ferntree Gully, with the help of cash from a community welfare fund, and contributions from the bordering shires of Knox and Yarra Ranges.
In 2000 the centre introduced a free accommodation booking services, which has since grown to become a major function of the centre. But despite a growing popularity, the DRT faced closure in 2002 because of a loss of members. However volunteers vowed to fight to keep the service going.
From this point on the centre has gone from strength to strength following a makeover in 2005 with the help of donations from local businesses and volunteers.
Volunteer Peter Schofield last year made his own contribution to the centre, building an additional table to provide workspace to service the increasing number of visitors calling in to the centre on their way to the Dandenong Ranges.
Two murals were also painted by local artists and placed on either side of the table.
DRT president Ron Hurley said the information centre now welcomes more than 20,000 visitors a year.
“They come from all over Australia and most parts of the world but they are untied in their interest in visiting the Dandenong Ranges and its many attractions,” he said.
Mr Hurley also said the popularity of the accommodation booking service had exploded over the past few years.
He said $300,000 worth of bookings were made through the service in 2007 alone.
Mr Hurley said that in 1998, when the call went out to volunteers for help to establish the centre, more than 150 people rushed to take part.
“We now have a force of 31 dedicated volunteers who give up their time to keep the centre going seven days a week,” he said.
Fourteen of those volunteers have been with the centre since the beginning.
Mr Hurley said the centre would continue to go from strength to strength as the tourism industry in the Dandenongs grows.