Tough times at Questacon, as a central feature in Australia’s science education landscape sees its wallet getting thinner.

Revenue at the well-known site for school-aged science has dropped by more than $1 million in the last financial year, at the same time as government funding dropped by $3 million.

Media outlets say internal figures show the National Science Centre recorded revenue of less than $22 million for the 2013–14 financial year, compared to revenue of $23 million in the previous financial year.

In fact, the turnover for Questacon dropped from nearly $38 million to $33 million.

Visitor numbers were down by just 1 per cent, showing the continued popularity and importance of the site that starts the STEM careers of many young Australians.

But the Government may not hold it in the same esteem, as it has cut the amount of operational and capital funding from $21 million to $18 million.

Staff at the centre remain upbeat about their situation and future, saying that the funding cuts are just their part of whole-of-government reductions.

With about 130,000 school children booked for trips each year and the recent launch of the new Technology Learning Centre – Questacon is set to keep inspiring young minds to scientific heights, though possibly with a slightly tighter belt.