Warrnambool Aquarium on the breakwater first opened in 1971 and operated as a public attraction until 1998.
The sandstone walls are believed to have come from the old abattoirs which included being carted there by hand. The walls were built by Norm Sanders and Ken Farral, the Domes was constructed by Digger Parker concrete, and other work done by Fotheringhams.
The aquarium used no filtration system at all, but rather twice a day the tanks were drained of most of their water and then filled again by pump, straight from the bay. This system meant that only local species were able to be maintained at the Aquarium for display. Amongst the species captured, kept, bred, and displayed at the aquarium were Blue-Ringed Octopus from Stingray Bay (that area the between the islands and the road you drive out on).
Towards the end of the its operating life it was leased on a month-to-month basis by the Warrnambool Council. It was then leased to Deakin University for $1 per year but the cost for Deakin to make it safe and useable was too expensive. After Deakin using it was no longer an option the council supposedly filled in the areas with sand as a safety precaution against the domes and roof falling in along with issues associated with the electrical network.
LOGGING REQUIREMENTS
To log this Virtual Geocache please post a photo of yourself or a photo containing your Geocaching name infront of the Domes with the ocean behind you. Your Caching name can be written on a piece of paper or hand, it must be in the photo and not added in at a later date.
Please take care near the water. Especially on stormy/windy days. Watch kids at all times.
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.