The Bega Cheese Heritage Centre has reopened after shutting for a time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: File.
Locals and visitors to the Bega Valley rejoice – the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre has finally reopened and is providing its bounty of dairy goodness to the community once again after its COVID-induced lockdown.
The heritage centre finally propped its doors open at the end of June 2022, more than two years after going into lockdown in March 2020.
A Centre spokesperson said it was closed for such a long time, beyond official lockdowns, out of an abundance of caution for its Lagoon Street and Ridge Street employees and community.
“Our priority is to minimise and, if possible, eliminate any external factors that could directly or indirectly impact our ability to continue operating our factories safely to service our customers,” the spokesperson said.
“Whilst the risks of a COVID-19 outbreak originating from the heritage centre was low, there was still a risk.”
Over lockdown, the Centre’s staff had been redeployed to alternative duties at Lagoon Street and Ridge Street.
“We thank those people for adapting to the disruption and finding other ways to contribute to our business over this extended period,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the heritage centre had a passionate and loyal customer base, but their traditional visitors had quickly managed to find other great options for hospitality throughout the community.
“We were pleased those other small businesses were able to step up, under challenging conditions, to service these customers,” they said.
The Centre can be found on Lagoon Street just north of Bega across the Bega River.
Its shop features locally-made gourmet jams and condiments, country-themed gifts and, of course, award-winning cheeses.
There is also a museum showing the history of dairying in the Bega Valley since the early 1900s, an art gallery and a visitor information centre.
Loading ...
