The centre was expected to close July 12 due to operating losses of about $200,000 each year.

It won a reprieve however after the community rallied to save it. An online fundraising campaign raised more than $38,000 for the centre. 

Businesses also chipped in to secure its future. Champions IGA pledged $35,000 over two years. 

Discovery Centre manager Kate Barnard said the centre’s staff had been humbled by the support. She said holding the party was the centre’s way of giving back to its supporters. 

“Discovery wanted to say thank you to Bendigo and all the organisations that stepped in to support us who said the organisation is so valuable and what we provide to the community was worth putting in the time, effort and money to save,” she said.

“This is our opportunity to officially say we’ve made it through.

“There’s still a lot of work to do but this our opportunity to celebrate and say thank you.”

Ms Barnard said guests to the event on Thursday evening would hear an update on the centre’s future, have an opportunity to join a Friends of Discovery group and then witness a special celebratory explosion. 

For more information or to RSVP to the event, which will run on Thursday from 5.30 to 6.30pm, click here.