The Giant Koala Grampians tourist attraction let loose on eBay
The owners of the Giant Koala, out the edge of the Grampians, have stepped up a marketing campaign for the massive beast, listing it on eBay.
Rob and Julie-Anne McPherson have been trying to sell the Giant Koala for more than eight months now, but potential buyers have had trouble securing finance.
“We just had a couple from Melbourne who were keen and wanted it but couldn’t get the money. Because it’s rural the bank want a 50% deposit. Finding someone with $250,000 is a bit scarce,” Rob McPherson told Property Observer.
The initial price for the eBay auction starts at $450,000 plus stock. There have been no bids so far but there have been around 1000 views on the listing.
McPherson says he put in eBay more as an advertising technique than a legitimate aim to sell through the website.
“I just said to the missus have a look on eBay and see what business and there were a few and we said we’ll put the koala on it and advertise.”
The koala was built in 1988 by Dutch sculptor Ben Van Zetten for Beryl Cowling.
The McPhersons are selling the property to focus on their catering business and a V8 super car simulator business which they have recently sold.
They took over the Giant Koala five years ago and it now earns nearly $300,000 per year.
It includes the giant koala sculpture, a café/restaurant, a mini-zoo, a gift-shop, tourist information centre, a Koala Educational centre inside the koala and a two bedroom residence, with an 8-person spa.
The koala, at 5829 Western Highway, Dadswells Bridge is being marketed by Colin McIntosh from Ballarat Real Estate.
He has it listed with a business buyers guide of $150,000 + SAV and a freehold buyers guide of $400,000.
McIntosh says they have revised price expectations since listing.
“We’ve had a massive amount of interest. Rob has virtually had people from all over the country speaking to him,” McIntosh told Property Observer.
“He had so many interviews with radio and television and newspaper all over the country, it’s a unique operation and they’re very good operators.”
