The building will facilitate the movement of over 100,000 passengers to and from cruise vessels and to the local region.

The Eden Welcome Centre is a new two-storey structure located in the popular cruise destination of Eden on the south coast of NSW. The ground floor is an open, mixed-use retail space, while the first floor is primarily for office use. The large sail roof provides a covered area for additional retail for market stalls.

The design celebrates the town's primary industries of fishing, forestry and tourism with a sail-like appearance and extensive use of hardwood timber. Recycled timber is used for the primary structural members, which have been sourced across the east coast of Australia.

The site is located on reclaimed land near the edge of the headland, which presented several challenges, including soft ground conditions, a wet and highly saline environment and exposure to strong winds from the sea. A thick concrete ground slab provided a stiff foundation to eliminate the need for piles, and the connection details were specified to provide longevity to the structure.

The main structure was built from native regional hardwoods and featured artwork, stories, and heritage interpretation. The Eden Welcome Centre is a tribute to the region, celebrating Eden's maritime history and Aboriginal history, wildlife, and the region's key industries

Client: Port Authority of New South Wales

Architect: Cox Architecture

Builder: Rankin Builders

Value: $6M

Completion: April 2021

Sector: Government & Public

Services: Timber, Structural