Maitland’s face-to-face visitor information service will relocate to the Maitland Regional Art Gallery within six weeks.
It follows a review, which included community consultation that attracted more than 1,000 submissions, with strong support for maintaining an in-person service in the city.
As a result, the move is expected to occur from 1 May, ahead of the winter tourism period.
Maitland City Council director city planning Trevor Ryan said visitor numbers at the High Street centre were not high enough to justify a stand-alone facility.
“In-person visitations aren’t at a level to warrant the service in its current form,” he explained.
“This presents an opportunity to integrate a touchpoint into Maitland Regional Art Gallery for visitors and residents who want more information about what Maitland has to offer.”
Mr Ryan said relocating the service to the gallery would place it closer to key attractions in central Maitland, as well as major events such as Steamfest, improving accessibility for both guests and locals.
Facilities at the existing site, near the New England Highway, will remain, including the Central Park Café, RV parking, RV dump point and associated amenities.
A report outlining future options for the present Visitor Information Centre building is expected to be presented to council at its April meeting.
The shift also reflects broader changes in how people plan their visits, with more users turning to digital platforms for information.
Visits to the My Maitland website now exceed 350,000 each year, offering details on events, accommodation, local businesses and trip planning.
Mr Ryan said the updated approach would combine online resources with a physical information point in a more central location.
“The aim is to ensure visitors and residents can continue to access info in a way that suits their needs, while improving efficiency and reach,” he added.
For more news stories:
- Officer’s employment status under review after Woodberry crash
- Petition grows to keep Mayfield pool open in winter
- Driver charged following fatal two-vehicle crash at Salamander Bay
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
