Portland Visitor Information Centre

Situated on the Portland foreshore, the Portland Visitor Information Centre, established in 1998, also houses a Maritime Museum. The building's design, when viewed from above, resembles an anchor. The museum showcases Portland's rich maritime history, featuring exhibits on whaling, shipwrecks, rescue operations, navigation, and the local fishing industry. A highlight is the 1858 Portland lifeboat, one of the oldest surviving shore-based lifeboats in Australia, renowned for its role in the 1859 rescue of survivors from the steamer "Admella." Other displays include a 14-meter sperm whale skeleton, a functioning lighthouse lens, and a paper mache replica of a 5.7-meter great white shark caught off Portland in 1982. Guided tours can be booked through the Visitor Information Centre. Additionally, the centre features a waterfront café. It serves as a "one-stop shop" for information on attractions, accommodation, and activities in Portland, the Glenelg Shire, and surrounding regions. The centre is a Victorian Tourism Accredited Visitor Information Centre. Opening hours are daily from 9 am to 5 pm, except Christmas Day. For inquiries, call 1800 035 567 or email portlandvic@glenelg.vic.gov.au.