Sisters Jenni Summers and Christine Williams celebrate the opening of Gembrook’s tourist information centre.
By Chris Brown
TWO sisters have added a tourist information section to their cafe and gift store on Main Street, in Gembrook.
Christine Williams and Jenni Summers have owned Charlottes on Main for 12 months and found themselves regularly answering visitors’ questions about the area.
“We had a lot of people come in and ask for directions, so we decided Gembrook needed an information centre,” Ms Williams said.
“Visitors often say there is nothing to do in Gembrook, but the real problem is a lack of information about activities and attractions, including our surrounding bushland and parks,” Ms Summers said.
The sisters have trained their staff in helping tourists, and will make brochures available in their tourist section.
“We believe we live in the best part of the world, and if we can help people access that we’ll be happy,” Ms Williams said.
Gembrook is a central feature of the Dandenong Ranges and attracts people from the Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley and Melbourne, all looking for walks, Parks Victoria information, or bed and breakfasts.
Ms Williams, when asked, points tourists in the direction of the Button grass walk, the historic buildings of Kirth Kiln, Bunyip State Forest and Shiprock Falls. And she expects a good response to the information centre, saying visitors are obviously grateful for the information they get.
