General News
7 December, 2025
Local businesses shine at Victorian Tourism Awards
TWO local businesses have plenty of reasons to celebrate taking home gold from the recent Victorian Tourism Awards. At a gala dinner in Melbourne last week, Mt William Station, near Willaura, took out first place in the Five Star Accommodation category, while boutique accommodation provider The Nook on the Hill at Pomonal won gold for ‘Self-Contained Accommodation’. A third local business, Pomonal Estate, also did well and was a finalist in the ‘Tourism, Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries’ category.
The Victorian Tourism Awards showcase the state’s leaders in tourism excellence, and encourage businesses to meet and exceed industry standards.
The wins are a testament to the skill, commitment and tenacity displayed by local tourism operators and communities around the Grampians.
The region has been heavily impacted by natural disasters over the past few years, and the wins send out a positive message to all.
Mt Williiam Station’s Will Abbott was delighted with his award.
“It was a great honour to receive the award. We didn’t really expect to win, so it was a really nice surprise. We’re very proud of our team and appreciative of all those who’ve supported us in the three and a half years since we opened.”
Mr Abbott said the application process was rigorous, and his partner Nadia had done bulk of the work.
Over sixty photos were submitted, along with a seven-thousand-word piece outlining visitor experiences, guest reviews, and accreditation standards.
The judging also included a site visit to see firsthand hand what was on offer at Mt William Station.
Benj Bailey-Webb built The Nook in the foothills of the Grampians two and a half years ago.
He credited the local community for much of its success, at last week’s awards.
“The win’s awesome and good for our community after all we’ve through in the past few years. Local partnerships have been important for us and helped us showcase the best of what our community has to offer. To win this after the devastation, the struggle and the perseverance that our little community has endured through two years of bushfires... it’s huge.”
In a pleasing twist, Benj’s parents, Robert and Jackie Bailey-Webb, won a similar gold medal twenty-five years ago for their nearby Pioneer Cottages.
Benj paid tribute to them and to Holly Robson and caretaker Kyle James, saying he couldn’t have won the award without them.
Pomonal Estate’s Pep Atchison said the team were very excited by their finals placing, and that the gala dinner had been “a big night”.
She paid tribute to her family and staff for their unwavering support.
“We have a family atmosphere here and everyone cares. It’s nice to be recognised for all the work that’s gone into building this from the ground up.”
Like Mt William Station and The Nook, Pomonal Estate has also faced challenges from nature.
“We’ve been here twenty-three years, and we’ve had eight fires, two floods and COVID,” Pep said.
Their gold medals put Mt William Station and The Nook on the Hill in the running for the Australian Tourism Awards, which are to be judged next March in Freemantle.
In the meantime, they and other businesses and communities around the Grampians are gearing up for what they hope will be a busy and safe summer season.
Read More: Ararat