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East Gippsland business, Bruthen Outdoor Gear, has secured a $50,000 grant to help build new headquarters to enable the business to transition from an equipment hire business to a tour operator catering to ecotourists and school outdoor education groups of up to 100 people.

The additional space will mean the business can provide more outdoor recreation offerings in the future, such as hiking.

Established in 2021, the business has provided outdoor recreation gear for rafting, canoeing and sea kayaking to individuals and to local outdoor tour companies.

Bruthen Outdoor Gear Assistant to the Chief Executive , Aly Nichol notes “this funding enables us to be seven years ahead of schedule for the expansion of the business and strengthens our ability to support other local businesses and groups"

"Our new facility means we no longer wash and dry gear in the rain and we will have space to pack, repair and store gear clearly so employees can access this easily"

The East Gippsland region was certified as an ecotourism destination by Ecotourism Australia in 2023. The project’s Nature Tourism Working Group is currently exploring ways to showcase the region’s natural and Traditional Owner heritage using digital technologies such as Augmented Reality.

The funding is being delivered via the Victorian Government’s Forestry Transition Fund. The Forestry Transition Program continues to invest in East Gippsland, providing support and grants for native timber businesses to transition their operations and other local businesses to expand.

This investment has resulted in 84% of native timber workers in the area remaining in employment – either in their existing jobs or finding new work, creating 32 jobs.

Transition Fund grants are currently available to interested businesses and organisations looking to create new jobs in communities impacted by the end of native timber harvesting. A $20,000 employment incentive payment is also available for businesses that hire ex-native timber workers. Visit deeca.vic.gov.au/forestry 

More information on Bruthen Outdoor Gear

Image. Credit: Bruthen Outdoor Gear

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