New ferry terminal opens at Queenscliff

The Victorian government has formally opened a new ferry terminal at Queenscliff on the western side of Port Phillip Bay.

Designed by F2 Architecture with landscape design by Tract, the new facility improves safety and amenity for the pedestrians and motorists who use the ferry service.

The ferry operates between Queenscliff to the west and Sorrento to the east, forming a gateway to Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road. The busiest passenger ferry in Australia, it carries more than 250,000 vehicles and 960,000 people per year.

"The project is the result of a 10-year collaboration between architect and client to create a landmark building that improves the passenger capacity and efficiency of the ferry operation [and] quality of the passenger experience, and increase[s] the range of facilities on offer," said the architects in their entry to the 2023 Victorian Architecture Awards.

The facility includes a cafe and restaurant, and a sitting area for passengers. It was prematurely opened in December 2022 to cater to summer holiday visitors. Works completed in 2023 include a new public boardwark and gantry.

"The modern new terminal, along with the many thousands of passengers that Searoad Ferries will bring, is going to be great for local tourism and business," said Victorian minister for regional development Harriet Shing.