The Riddoch & Main Corner Complex
The Riddoch & Main Corner Complex
The Riddoch & Main Corner Complex
4.1
About
The Riddoch & Main Corner Complex is an arts & cultural centre featuring sophisticated sound and light displays that tell the story of Mount Gambier, including a free feature documentary called Volcano, as well as hosting South Australia's largest regional art gallery.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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4.1
53 reviews
Excellent
25
Very good
15
Average
7
Poor
3
Terrible
3
Virginia M
Erina, Australia93 contributions
Nov 2024 • Solo
A great place to visit in the town centre. The staff are extremely friendly and informative. If you are going to see the Blue Lake and sinkholes, I totally recommend you go here first. They show a movie doco on how the volcanic craters were formed etc. It explains it so well, and gives you a great understanding when you then see these natural wonders.
Written 24 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharlsandco
Melbourne, Australia164 contributions
Nov 2022
Did not come here for the 'art', only for the volcano history film of Mount Gambier's creation. The film goes for approx an hour, but is very well done offering information on volcanic activity, indigenous settlers and evolution of crater lakes etc. and the Mount Gambier area in general. The staff member at the desk was very helpful. The fence art at the back of the complex is very good and worth seeing.
Written 29 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FiFoGeo
Kingston SE, Australia108 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
The Main Corner in Mount Gambier is a relatively recently renovated trendy spot. It houses the regional gallery, 'Riddoch Art Gallery' as well as some historical displays and an excellent presentation on Mount Gambier (the Blue Lake) from both a geological and local Boandik creation story perspective. There is also a small Haighs chocolate selection! Nom!
The gallery has some fantastic displays, their own collection is great, Booth, Robertson etc but they also get travelling shows from all over including international exhibitions. There are three separate spaces and the gallery tries to offer a wide variety of styles in an effort to appeal to a broad cross-section of the community. It is well worth a visits and currently the main exhibition is by a renowned Australian artist who now lives in the South East.
There is also a great little gallery shop with lots of examples of arts and crafts created by local artists from the South East region, purchasing a piece here would help keep this fantastic cultural facility viable!
There is also a very helpful information desk and even a few bikes for FREE HIRE!
The gallery has some fantastic displays, their own collection is great, Booth, Robertson etc but they also get travelling shows from all over including international exhibitions. There are three separate spaces and the gallery tries to offer a wide variety of styles in an effort to appeal to a broad cross-section of the community. It is well worth a visits and currently the main exhibition is by a renowned Australian artist who now lives in the South East.
There is also a great little gallery shop with lots of examples of arts and crafts created by local artists from the South East region, purchasing a piece here would help keep this fantastic cultural facility viable!
There is also a very helpful information desk and even a few bikes for FREE HIRE!
Written 8 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HDStripad
Australia1,077 contributions
Nov 2020
Very disappointed that none of the permanent collection was on display. There were no exhibitions at all. We declined the invitation to the gift shop, exited and returned to watch the film about the first nation interpretation of the local landforms and the “Volcano” film. I commend the Mt Gambier council for commissioning the films. Sadly the diction of the narrators was unintelligible to anyone with less than perfect hearing. I recommend the addition of subtitles to both films.
Written 6 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CoolMum64
OB Flat, Australia188 contributions
Dec 2015 • Friends
A worthwhile place to visit, and somewhere I like to bring our guests to. You can step upstairs and while away some time looking at the historical displays. A good rainy day activity for tourists.
The only outlet in Mt Gambier for South Australia's acclaimed Haig's Chocolates.
The Cave Gardens at the rear and the Riddoch Art Gallery next door makes it a convenient stop in the heart of town.
The only outlet in Mt Gambier for South Australia's acclaimed Haig's Chocolates.
The Cave Gardens at the rear and the Riddoch Art Gallery next door makes it a convenient stop in the heart of town.
Written 15 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derren21
Melbourne, Australia111 contributions
Jan 2016 • Family
This place was a real pleasure to visit. The displays are fantastic, the staff very friendly and helpful. The highlight for us was the free movie about how the Blue Lake and Surrounding area was formed. The movie lasts an hour and is very well done. It explains perfectly how the area came to be in geographical terms. I would visit this place first because when you then visit the Blue Lake etc, it will all make sense and you will find yourself pointing out the various geographical features as you explore the area.
A definite must do.
A definite must do.
Written 16 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Enjoy219
Mount Gambier, Australia10 contributions
Aug 2015 • Friends
The Main Corner has recently been changed and the end result is a wonderful mix of old and new architecture. The building materials, all local, used in the original building have been replicated in the very modern extension and represent a wonderful blend of styles and materials. Inside the various spaces are both interesting and appropriate and provide a variety of venues for multiple types of events and activities. Outside the landscaping is both complementary and functional. All told, a vastly improved facility, both in appearance and function.
Written 11 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ingawarra
Mount Gambier26 contributions
July 2015 • Couples
Here in the epicentre of Mount Gambier we found the Riddoch Art Gallery, a small theatrette, a small tourist information centre, a Haigh's Chocolate outlet and the helpful Joanne. The Art Gallery is home to a regional art collection and we were fortunate to time our visit with an exhibition that paid homage to "GiGi's". Told this was a cosmopolitan cafe from the 60's that shattered the Australian roast and 3 veg and West End culinary experience with central European flavour and style. Loved the film clip from the early 60's but the best movie was "Volcano" up in what they called the Dress Circle. This gave us not only a history of the region's geology but also the history of the "Boandik" people who were the first inhabitants of this corner of Oz. We recommend viewing the "Volcano" movie first and then head out to explore the Blue Lake, the Valley Lake precinct and the region's sinkholes. They will even arrange a "free" pushbike for you, talk to Joanne, she will set you up.
Written 10 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fozwanderer
Mansfield, Australia180 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
Smack bang in the middle of town, opposite the historic Mt Gambier Hotel, is this wonderful complex which includes an art gallery space, an interactive museum covering history and natural features as well as a theatre. Outside there is lawn space with picnic blankets provided and on the other side is the cave garden where a sound and light show happens at night. During our visit the gallery space was dedicated to Vietnam veterans and we saw photos of individuals and read their fascinating descriptions of their jobs and feelings about the war. Upstairs there was a huge historical display with wonderful interactive screens covering the history of the area, famous people and geothermal phenomena. There were also films and photo essays. At 11am and 1pm the Dress Circle Theatre showed the most amazing film which described the volcanic activity which created the Blue Lake and the modern landscape of the region. It was lively and reminiscent of an Imax film. The whole complex is free and not to be missed.
Written 10 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ojemma1
Richmond Hill, Canada59 contributions
Oct 2018 • Business
The Main Corner Complex is where everything happens. It is right downtown. It has a Museum in addition to meeting rooms and a theater. There was a video exhibit going on when we visited and it was quite interesting.We also watched the Volcano video before going on our Blue Lake tour. It has an interesting front.
Written 6 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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