Yea’s wetlands are situated on 32ha of flood prone crown land between two branches of the unregulated Yea River and lie either side of the Goulburn Valley Highway. To show case this unique natural environment, The Y Water Discovery Centre was built to incorporate an accredited Visitor Information Centre and an Interpretive & Educational Centre.
The building was designed by Melbourne architectural firm, Zen Architects and feature very impressive radial sawn timber blades that wrap around the exterior of the centre.
The presence of these blades provided a wonderful landscaping opportunity - what else could it contain but a wetland creek. A dry creek dotted with Ficinia nodosa and Isolepis nodosa now carries rainfall around the perimeter of the building and back to the wetlands beyond.
Visitors enter the building via a concrete ramp that, through careful placement of rocks, now feels like a bridge over the water. A magnificent Acaia Emerald Curls arches over the door and allows you to experience the creek bed closeup.
After passing through the centre you enter a garden of learning. Visitors can learn about local floras, fauna, Koori culture, as well as all the challenges of water allocation to our community.
