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Following the 1980 festival, the committee sought to secure a permanent home for the oyster monument, which was being displayed on a temporary basis in the Rural Bank. The committee felt that the monument needed to be located in a prominent position to promote the oyster industry and annual festival to visitors.[149]
The committee approached the then Imlay Shire Council, advising it that the committee’s aim was to raise sufficient funds from the 1981 festival to fulfil the project of establishing a suitable permanent setting for the monument, and enquiring if an area would be available in the vicinity of Twyford Hall, on the corner of Market and Beach Streets (see Map 7.1), which was readily accessible to parking and visible from the shopping centre.[150]
The committee pointed out that the monument was of fibreglass construction and needed to be housed under protective covering ‘to prevent any further vandalism or deterioration due to exposure to weather’. It proposed an enclosed recording unit to inform people of the life and form of an oyster which was an important industry playing a significant part in local tourism.[151]
The Council resolved to suggest to the Oyster Festival Committee that the monument be placed in the new Tourist Information Centre being erected by Merimbula Area Promotions in Beach Street.[152] The Tourist Information Centre (later known as the Visitor Information Centre) opened on 14 September 1980.[153]
In a photograph of the Information Centre that appeared in a local newspaper in March 1981, the monument is visible inside the Information Centre, behind the closed front door (see Photograph 7.1); the monument can be seen positioned on a stand, to which the plaque is attached.[154]
Another photograph, on the front page of the 1981 Merimbula Oyster Festival Supplement, shows the monument sitting outside the Tourist Information Centre in its stand, which had wheels fitted to it in order to facilitate moving the monument in and out of the building (see Photograph 7.2).[155]
7.1 Monument inside the Tourist Information Centre, March 1981.[156]
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7.2 Monument outside the Tourist Information Centre, April 1981.[157]
Map 7.1 Map of Merimbula town centre showing some of the sites associated with the history of the monument and oyster festivals.[158]
Map 7.2 Map of Merimbula showing some of the sites associated with the history of the monument and oyster festivals.[159]
Map 7.3 Map of Merimbula area showing some of the sites associated with the history of the monument and oyster festivals.[160]
