The completion of a 16-room boutique hotel, restaurant and events space in a popular Yarra Valley winery is expected to drive visitation to the area by an extra 40,000 people each year.
The Labor government invested AU$3.5 million in the redevelopment of the family-owned, 200-acre Helen and Joey Estate.
Now known as Re’em, the site features a boutique hotel overlooking the vineyard, a new restaurant and landscaped outdoor space for weddings and events.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, said it will create more local jobs and boost the region’s economy.
“The expansion of Helen and Joey Estate will allow visitors to stay longer and explore everything this beautiful region has to offer,” Dimopoulos said.
“The Yarra Valley’s reputation as a world-class food and wine hotspot speaks for itself and this epic tourism operator will now support even more local jobs.”
Founded in 2010, Helen and Joey Estate has quickly become one of the most popular wineries in the region.
The new 110-seat restaurant will offer a fusion of regional Chinese and modern Australian cuisine using Victorian produce and drawing inspiration from the owners’ Chinese birthplaces.
More than 5.1 million visitors from across Australia visited the region in the 12 months to June 2023 – generating more than AU$900 million for the economy.