Cedar Mill Group Planning Outdoor Concert Amphitheatre in Victoria’s Yarra Valley

Cedar Mill Group, which has two major entertainment and tourism precincts in NSW in the pipeline, has expanded to the Yarra Valley in Victoria for its third project.

It has acquired a 100-acre site on the Maroondah Highway in the Yarra Valley, a premium wine tourism destination that draws about six million visitors per year.

The company will spend $200 million on the project for a 2024 opening.

Cedar Mill Yarra Valley is set to draw major international and domestic entertainment acts with an outdoor amphitheatre.

An hour’s drive from Melbourne central, it will house a 300-bed hotel, conference and function facilities, three restaurants, 20 boutique villa units, tennis courts, a lake and gardens precinct and an arts village.

Development plans will be lodged in the coming months.

The construction phase is estimated to create over 500 new jobs and inject upwards of $200 million through build costs, job creation, supply chain and consumption over the next two years.

It will involve local growers and operators in providing boutique goods and dining experiences inspired by the local agricultural heritage and winemaking, distilling and brewing.

Paul Lambess, managing director of Cedar Mill Group and its parent company Winarch Capital, said this was the beginning of a rollout of multiple sites in Victoria.

“This marks the first interstate purchase that will begin our realisation of a national and international network,” he said.

“All venues will include world-class and purpose-built amphitheatres that the Cedar Mill brand will be known for.”

Construction has begun on the $235 million redevelopment of Morisset Golf Course, to be known as Cedar Mill Lake Macquarie, with plans for a 30,000 person concert venue, cafes and restaurants, accommodation and Australia’s largest aquatic play park.

Last August, Cedar Mill Group bought one of the Hunter Valley wine region’s most premium development sites, in Pokolbin, for its second purpose-built outdoor amphitheatre and tourism project.

It is expected to open late 2023 at a cost of about $150 million.

“The Victorian event and tourism market has always been a priority for us, so we are thrilled to be on such a quality site in the Yarra Valley,” said the recently promoted Kyle McKendry, who is now CEO of both companies.

“Great things ahead for Cedar Mill Group in Victoria and a fantastic addition to the regional tourism market, delivering employment and economic benefits for the Yarra Valley.”

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.