The future of Discovery was plunged into doubt earlier this month when the Bendigo Trust announced it would relinquish its more than 10 year control of the centre.

The Trust blames increased operating costs, dwindling attendances and the loss of a state government grant for its decision to end its agreement with the centre.

The centre’s committee of management has since been locked in discussions with stakeholders, including the City of Greater Bendigo and local business, to discuss ways to address the funding shortfall.

Out-of-town visitors to the centre on Monday were shocked to learn that the centre was at risk of closure.

Twelve-year-old Taylah Bevan, of Gisborne, said it would be a sad day for children everywhere if the centre was forced to shut its doors.

The first-time Discovery visitor urged the state government to intervene.

Cooper Coathup, 7, of Trentham, said he and brother Daniel visited the centre every school holidays with their grandmother.

Monday was the first they had heard of the centre’s fight for survival.

“It’s such a fun place to visit. There’s lots of games and plenty of things to learn. I would be very said if it had to close,” Cooper said.

Staff at the centre, however, are not entertaining thoughts of this potentially being the last school holidays the centre would open.

Manager Kate Barnard said with plenty of work being done behind the scenes to secure new financial partners she was optimistic a way forward would be found.

“If anything it’s an opportunity for us to reinvent ourselves,” she said.

“This will happen as the new board finds its feet.”

“I think there is a good chance we will continue especially with the great public support we’ve been seeing.”

Ms Barnard said she had been heartened by the messages of support which had flooded in from schools across the state.

“Just today (Monday) I received a bunch of letters and drawings from children from St Pat’s primary school down near Warrnambool,” she said.

“We’ve had lots of different schools send letters. We have put some of them up in our front window from the kids at Quarry Hill and Camp Hill.

“It is so heartening to hear all the stories of fun and learning and excitement from their visits to the centre.”

A crowdfunding campaign to help save the Discovery centre will be launched this week.