Recognition a collective effort

Apopular travel and accommodation booking agency has listed Halls Gap as a top-10 finalist in an annual Australian travel destination award.

Halls Gap placed eighth in the website’s 2022 Aussie Town of the Year award, judged on the website’s internal indexes for accommodation affordability, quality and traveller satisfaction.

Victoria was the state most represented on the list, with Yarra Valley, fourth, and Batemans Bay, ninth, inside the top-10.

Travel website Wotif judged Launceston as the 2022 town of the year.

Northern Grampians mayor Tony Driscoll said recognition of Halls Gap was marvellous.

“Australia is a big place and for Halls Gap to place eighth is great recognition for the wider Grampians community,” he said.

“All these hidden treasures in the Grampians are being unearthed by visitors as they have the opportunity to travel as COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease.”

Cr Driscoll emphasised the unique nature of the broader Grampians community.

“The community is small and tightknit and its hard work is starting to crystallise,” he said.

“It is a credit to the teamwork and resilience that has seen the community band together through some tough years. Halls Gap’s recognition is a collective effort that shows it takes many hands to make a beautiful place a real tourist experience.”

Wimmera Development Association chief executive Chris Sounness said Halls Gap’s attraction would ‘spill over’ into the rest of the Wimmera and southern Mallee.

“There is a real symbiotic relationship between the region’s tourist destinations and other businesses,” he said.

“People come to Halls Gap and from there, they might day trip to other towns and visit other businesses in the region. The viability of the Grampians tourism attractions is something a lot of people have been working on and it is so exciting for the region.”

Wotif managing director Daniel Finch said 2022 was going to be a pivotal year for domestic tourism.

“While many Aussies have travelled over the past 24 months, few have had the chance to really explore and travel across state borders. It’s incredibly promising to see that 88 percent of Aussies planning to travel this year are looking to stay within Australia,” he said.

“Our hope is that these awards inspire Aussies to try something new and get back to exploring this beautiful country.”

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER IMPORTANT ROLE: Horsham Primary School leaders for 2022, from left, Zahlee Mclean, vice-captain at Rasmussen Campus, Sophie Risson, vice-captain Baillie Street, Stevie Clark, front, captain at Rasmussen, Keeley Schultz and Beau Charity, Baillie Street captains, and Jasper Beddison, Baillie Street vice-captain.