Cairns Aquarium to sell through international EOI campaign

A rare opportunity to own sharks, snakes and crocodiles is now a reality for the right investor following an international campaign to sell the Cairns Aquarium. All the details here.

A rare opportunity to own sharks, snakes and crocodiles is now a reality for the right investor following an international campaign to sell the Cairns Aquarium.

Colliers have launched an international expression of interest campaign seeking a buyer for the landmark Florence St tourism business.

Aquarium founders Daniel Leipnik and Andrew Preston cut the opening ribbon on the $54m attraction in 2017 after a year’s long campaign to get the facility built

At the time of opening it was Australia’s first aquarium to be built in 18 years.

Cairns Aquarium CEO and founder Daniel Leipnik. Picture: Brendan Radke

The three-storey purpose-built complex provides visitors with an educational and entertainment experience across over 70 displays showcasing the species, habitats, and ecosystems of Tropical North Queensland.

Co-located at the site currently is the Dundees at the Cairns Aquarium seafood restaurant.

Colliers managing director in Cairns Stacey Quaid said the firm had been appointed by the directors of Cairns Aquarium to seek expressions of interest for investment in the freehold land, business assets and business enterprise of Cairns’ only Aquarium.

“This is a real opportunity to purchase not only an iconic site in the tourism hotspot of Cairns city, but the business as well,” Mr Quaid said.

Colliers has listed the Cairns Aquarium for sale through an expressions of interest campaign. Picture: Supplied

“The Cairns Aquarium houses one of the region’s newest tourist attractions with the purpose built facility contained within a 4,003sq m site offering 7,475sq m of total floor area.

“This successful all-weather venue provides guaranteed access and experiences of ecosystems

seldom accessible in habitat providing a must see up close-up view of creeks and streams, wetlands and swamps, rainforest and forest floor, mangroves, the great barrier reef and the ocean depths.

“This is a highly successful enterprise that combines hands-on experience with education, conservation and social good, showing the best of our tropical marine environments.”

The Cairns Aquarium features 70 displays, including this shark tank. Picture: Supplied

At the time of opening five years ago the value of the business was estimated to be worth upward of $100m.

Earnings before taxes forecast for the remaining 2023 financial year equated to $6.9m, according to Colliers.

Colliers national director investment services Jason Lynch said more than 1.5m people had visited the “must see” Cairns attraction since it opened.

“The business has now seen 15 consecutive months of record trading results and is well on track to capitalise on the strong recovery in Queensland tourism currently being experienced and projected through the ‘golden decade’ leading up to the Queensland Olympic Games in 2032,” he said.

International expressions of interest will close on 22 June 2023 at 12pm.

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Originally published as Cairns Aquarium to sell through international EOI campaign