Northcliffe was established as a group settlement town in 1924. The group settlement scheme was heavily promoted in the UK by Lord Northcliffe, owner of the newspapers Daily Mail and London Evening News, and the town was named after him. Life was tough for the groupies but many persevered and their descendants are valued members of our community and have a wealth of knowledge about our town’s settlement history.
Windy Harbour was established by local timber workers seeking an inexpensive holiday when life was hard in the early 1900’s. Over 200 holiday homes, originally shacks, have been established since that time and is a beloved destination for generations of local families.
Since 1924 Northcliffe has undergone transitions through various industries including tobacco and timber to shape what our town has become today – a vibrant and resilient small community creating art, growing great produce and welcoming tourists to explore our region.
Originally established as the Pemberton-Northcliffe Tourism Association, the Northcliffe Visitor Centre transformed into a member-based not-for-profit Incorporated Association in September 1991 under the name Northcliffe Tourist Centre Inc, and then in 2004 became the Northcliffe Visitor Centre Inc (NVC).
The NVC employs several staff, including a part-time Manager and both part-time and casual Customer Service Officers. Strategic Planning is directed by a volunteer Committee consisting of a President, Vie President, Secretary, Treasurer and several Committee Members who meet periodically.
The NVC is partially funded by the Shire of Manjimup to provide a tourism information service for Windy Harbour and Northcliffe as well as face to face customer service for the Northcliffe Public Library. The NVC also organizes an annual mountain bike event each April, the Northcliffe Karri Cup MTB Challenge. The Karri Cup is run predominantly by volunteers on behalf of the NVC and helps raise vital funds to assist with the centres operational expenses.
The Northcliffe Visitor Centre is open daily 9am – 3pm all year round, only closing for the Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day public holidays each year.
If you are interested in joining the Northcliffe Visitor Centre team follow the link below to find out about any employment of volunteering opportunities available: