The new World Heritage Visitors Centre on Penno's Wharf in St. George's will be a major educational centre for local students.

The St. George's Foundation is working with the Ministry of Education to bring students to the centre, which will be constructed out of the historic Queen's Warehouse.

The proposals include a movie theatre and two galleries telling the history of the town on the top storey alone.

"It will be the gateway to the town," Sharon Jacobs of the St. George's Foundation said.

Last Friday saw the groundbreaking of the new centre. Present were the Governor and his wife, Sir John and Lady Vereker, Mayor of St. George's E. Michael Jones and chairman of the Bank of Bermuda Foundation, Joseph Johnson. Ms Jacobs said it would cost $6 million to "prepare the building for occupation".

When The Royal Gazette visited the warehouse this week, it was still full of boxes, but Ms Jacobs explained construction would not begin until early next month.

"It will be boarded up so that construction will begin," Ms Jacobs said.

"We envision that it will take four to five months to complete phase one."

Phase two will involve the installation of the exhibits and the movie theatre that can seat "40 to 60 persons", she said.

"Downstairs are the trip planning area, and a place where visitors can buy tickets to museums etc. There is also a small retail area."

Ms Jacobs said the site would be used by locals too.

"It will be a major educational facility. We are working with the Ministry of Education to ensure students come to the centre. We plan that the Centre will show ten minute films about the history of the Town ? and the film will have to be produced ? and that the centre can be as a kind of orientation, before students are taken into the town to visit the site," she said. The centre is also planned to cater to the private sector.

"Corporations can hold small meetings. There is a small area for catering, and the plaza in front that will be built. It is called the Bank of Bermuda Foundation plaza, who are funding the whole heritage centre project."

She said that the St. George's Foundation had raised a total of $20 million, half of which was to be used for the centre.

"Six million dollars will go towards it being built and fitted. The other $4 million is an endowment to support the centre when it is up and running," she said.