She said the decision has been made by the Trust and the council, and if any application for funding were made then the state government would have given it consideration.

"There has been no application made through me or through the government for support," Ms Allan said.

"With the staff, they are clearly passionate about what they do and it is likely to be a difficult time for them."

UPDATE: Bendigo mayor Peter Cox said he does not accept comments made from the Discovery committee of management that council is partly responsible for the centre's closure.

Cr Cox said how the Bendigo Trust prioritises its funding from council is a matter for them.

"It has been incredibly difficult for the centre to compete with Scienceworks in Melbourne which is subsidised by the state government and is free for students," he said.

"While council has a long-term lease on the Railway Terrace building, the Bendigo Trust is responsible for managing the operation of the centre.

"As the leaseholder, Council will be looking at alternative uses for this high profile site."

In a statement, the committee of management of the Discovery Science and Technology Centre stated the council and state government had not been "interested in being involved".

The centre is due to close on July 12, resulting in the loss of 17 jobs, including two full-time positions.

UPDATE: Staff at the Discovery Science and Technology Centre have described their disappointment at the announcement to close the centre from July 12.

The closure would result in 17 job losses, including two permanent full time, five part time and 10 casual employees.

Discovery education co-ordinator Rachel Rayner said there would be no other way to have a hands-on science experience in Bendigo without the centre.

"Kids always come in and you hear that 'wow' when they start to walk around," she said.

The Bendigo Trust chose not to continue the arrangement for a range of reasons, chief executive officer Ian Hart said.

A $150,000 grant over three years finished in at the end of 2013/14, and the council provides $40,000 in non-indexed funds to the centre per year.

Discovery hosts an average of 12,000 students per year and a further 18,000 general paying visitors - double the figure of 10 years ago.

EARLIER: Bendigo's Discovery Science and Technology Centre faces closure next month after the committee of management members announced they would resign.

In a statement, the centre blamed a "lack of commitment from the Victorian government and the City of Greater Bendigo to support the centre into the future" for the decision.

The Bendigo Trust informed the centre's committee of management that it would not be renewing an operational agreement beyond July this year.

The centre is due to close on July 12.

Discovery manager David Holmes said the council and the state government have indicated they are not interested in being involved.

"It is extremely disappointing that as Discovery should be celebrating its 20th year of operation, it now finds itself facing the prospect of closure," he said.

"Considering all the investment Discovery has received from philanthropic and government funds, it is very surprising that council's decision to abandon Discovery has been taken behind closed doors without any consultation with the community other investors or Bendigo's education sector."

The Bendigo Trust leases the space from the Bendigo Marketplace, via the council, and sub-leases it to the Discovery centre committee of management.

Bendigo Trust chief executive officer Ian Hart said the closure will be at the end of the winter school holiday period.

He said increases in annual operating costs, declining attendances and the loss of an operating grant from the state government were among a wide range of reasons for choosing not to continue the lease.

"The Trust's financial position has not been strong for many years and it has not had the financial ability to implement a significant refresh of the exhibit floor space to grow interest and repeat visitation, nor to compete effectively with other attractions and science based centres elsewhere," he said.

"The Bendigo Trust’s core purpose is to manage, promote and present heritage tourism assets on behalf of the city, and while Discovery ran many worthwhile programs, it was never in the Trust’s charter, nor should it have been its obligation, to underwrite the cost of a science based education centre."

The committee of management has been in discussions with new partners to take on the operation of Discovery, but no secure commitment has been reached.

All normal school holiday programs will continue until July 12.