By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
A Melbourne visitor’s recent experience with public toilets in Olinda has sparked concern over the state of facilities in the popular tourist town.
Glenda Esse, 80, visited Olinda with her family last week and was “disgusted” by the condition of the public toilets, which she described as “disgraceful” and “neglected.”
Ms Esse was disappointed that a beautiful and well-known destination like Olinda had such poorly maintained amenities.
She specifically referenced the toilets near the town’s pharmacy and ATM – between Mount Dandenong Tourist Road and Monash Ave – noting the walls were covered in graffiti, stained with “old stuff,” and lacking basic facilities such as hooks for bags.
“It’s one of the most beautiful places in the Dandenong Ranges, surrounded by nature, yet these toilets are a disgrace. They need a proper upgrade,” Ms Esse said.
“It’s just not good enough, especially when tourists are coming through – they deserve better.”
Olinda, known for its lush gardens, scenic views, and quaint village atmosphere, attracts thousands of visitors every year – however, Ms Esse believes the state of the town’s public toilets could leave a bad impression on those exploring the area.
“Tourists come to enjoy Olinda, and one of the first things they need are clean and accessible public facilities,” she said.
“I saw a couple of buses with Japanese tourists, and I’m sure they wouldn’t have been impressed by what they found. If you’re visiting a country, the state of public toilets can tell you a lot about how well the place is looked after.”
While acknowledging the pressure on local councils to maintain facilities, Ms Esse called on Yarra Ranges Council to take immediate action to upgrade and improve the Olinda toilets.
She said, as a top tourist spot, the town’s amenities should be in better condition to accommodate the growing number of visitors.
In response to the concerns, Yarra Ranges Council’s acting director of built environment and infrastructure Jonathon Makaay, said that the Olinda toilets are serviced daily by cleaners year-round.
He said the cleaning schedule has been increased to four times a day during the summer period to cater to the rise in visitors.
“We understand the importance of clean and well-maintained public facilities, especially in busy tourist areas like Olinda. The site has received the full four cleans per day over the past weekend,” Mr Makaay said.
Mr Makaay also encouraged both locals and visitors to take care when using public facilities to ensure they remain clean between official cleanings.
Despite the council’s efforts, Ms Esse believes more work is needed.
“I know cleaning is difficult and costly, but if Olinda wants to stay a top destination for tourists, the toilets need attention. Clean facilities are a basic expectation,” she said.
With tourism continuing to rise in the Dandenong Ranges, Ms Esse’s comments highlight an ongoing issue that could affect Olinda’s reputation as a must-see destination.
