Gayndah’s Big Orange on the market for offers over $1m

Retirement beckons for the owners of the Big Orange at Gayndah but a buyer needs to be found for the 45-year-old tourist attraction with a surprisingly modest price tag.

Big Orange owners Neil and Tanya Richards have put a price tag of just over $1million on the property which includes adjoining orchards, a family home and cafe business.

Gayndah’s Big Orange, the icon of the citrus capital of Queensland, is on the market.

Owners Neil and Tanya Richards have put a price tag of just over $1 million on the property which includes adjoining orchards, a family home and a cafe business .

Located on the main street of Gayndah near the Burnett River, the orchard has a 19-megalitre irrigation licence.

The package is being sold as a walk-in walk-out operation, with a full listing of fixtures, fittings, plant, equipment and stock at the time of sale.

The Big Orange has welcomed guests for more than 40 years.

The Gayndah Big Orange is one of four big oranges across Australia, and was built in 1977 as part of a celebration of the region’s citrus industry.

Since then, it has been called a “hidden gem” by many tourists who have given it their “peel of approval” and 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor.

New owners will take over Gayndah’s Big Orange.

The orange itself opens to curious visitors and its walls are painted with a history of the region’s exploits and labels from oranges brands throughout the decades.

After taking over the location a little over a decade ago, the Richards said they were ready to move on and take things a bit easier.

“I’m over 60 and we are working seven days some weeks,” Mr Richards said.

“Some days we have to shut early just to have some time to ourselves and it’s a shame when we could still be seeing customers.”

The business has become such a successful tourist hot spot it has outgrown the time and energy Neil and Tanya can give it.

Ray White real estate agent Jo Schuberth said the business was profitable, with good bones for takeover.

“The owners are getting older and they operate all areas which keeps them very busy,” Ms Schuberth said.

The orchard has existing contracts with citrus markets.

There is a well established orchard with a large variety of citrus, with the benefit of all plant and equipment to run a fully functioning business.

Adding to the attraction is a cafe and store.

“The business has done so well in the last few years all because of what the owners have been able to achieve and build up,” she said.

Ms Schuberth said interested buyers may be able to break up the purchase if they preferred.

“It has quite a range and it’s iconic, but you could carve it up,” she said.

“It just needs someone with a fresh outlook who can keep growing the business,” Mr Richards said.

Originally published as Gayndah’s Big Orange on the market for offers over $1m