A walk on the wild side with park purchase

GERRY Ryan has again demonstrated his eclectic business tastes with his latest investment in Gumbuya Park, outside Pakenham.

Gumbuya Park has been bought by investors, including Gerry Ryan.

WHETHER it’s creating camper trailer chic, dallying with dinosaurs or cuddling ­koalas, Gerry Ryan has again demonstrated his eclectic business tastes with his latest investment in Gumbuya Park, outside Pakenham.

The founder of Jayco Caravans, Mr Ryan said he bought into the syndicate which paid $4.65 million for the ageing amusement park and wildlife sanctuary because he wanted “to give something back and encourage family entertainment”.

The syndicate also includes founder and director of car-sales.com.au Wal Pisciotta and industrial developer Adam Campbell, among others.

CBRE’s David Minty led the team that brokered the deal on behalf of the family who had been the park’s long-time owners.

The park is on 166ha and houses more than 300 native animals including dingoes, wombats, koalas, emus and various bird species. It will soon have new residents, as Mr Ryan says the plan is to add to the variety of its inhabitants.

“This might not be the best investment around at the ­moment on the basis of returns, but I believe in it,” Mr Ryan said. “It’s a special place because it is one of only four establishments in Victoria that hold a zoo licence.”

He said he was approached to invest in the park because of his extensive interest in the tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors.

Mr Ryan chairs Global Creatures, which owns the technology behind the Walking With Dinosaurs blockbuster shows.

The syndicate has budgeted “several million dollars” for improvements to the site, which was established in 1978.

“The park is a little bit like me … old and tired,” Mr Ryan quipped, adding that refurbishments, including extensive landscaping, were already underway.

Gumbuya, which is about 65km from Melbourne at ­Tynong North, also has a variety of activities for families, including pony and tractor rides, water slides, mini-golf, paddleboats and go-kart racing.

“I used to take my kids to Gumbuya when they were little and now I want my grandkids to also experience the fun of a great outdoor park,” Mr Ryan told Commercial Property.

Among the new facilities ­future visitors will be able to enjoy are a variety of accommodation options, including cabins and camping areas.

The existing function centre will also be revamped to attract new business and Mr Ryan is hoping to add features that will appeal to overseas tourists.

“The aim is to alert international visitors who flock to Phillip Island that just up the road they can come to Gumbuya and cosy up with a koala or a dingo.”

The southeast corridor of outer Melbourne is experiencing a population boom within a number of masterplanned ­estates being established and Mr Ryan believes the park will hold great appeal for locals as well.

“Unfortunately, the founder of the park died a few years ago and the next generation were not able to carry through on the upgrades that had been planned … but we are going to do that now,” he said.