Geelong store Family Pet and Aquarium placed in liquidation

A longstanding Geelong pet and aquarium store has been placed in liquidation allegedly owing more than $750,000, with its landlord claiming the business abandoned thousands of fish.

Family and Pet Aquarium has closed after operating for 26 years. Picture: Alison Wynd

A longstanding Grovedale pet and aquarium store has been placed in liquidation allegedly owing more than $750,000, with its landlord claiming the business abandoned thousands of fish.

Family Pet and Aquarium, operating under the business name Damiscam Pty Ltd, appointed a liquidator on May 1.

In a social media post on Friday, it announced it would not re-open in the current location due to “circumstances beyond our control”.

It appears the business suddenly left the premises it had been leasing on Lewalan St in Grovedale for the past six months, leaving many fish behind and the site in a state of squalor.

The business was previously located at 156-168 Marshalltown Road, Grovedale.

Robert, who did not want his surname published, has been leasing the Lewalan St premises to the business’ director Gaynor Maxine Dwyer and said he was disappointed with the state it was left in.

The Grovedale site. Picture: Alison Wynd

He said so far he had spent $50,000 on repairs to the property, and was left to deal with thousands of fish, after the business owners left the premises.

“We’ve been trying to keep these fish alive, the RSPCA were involved and everything else,” Robert said.

A report by liquidator Daniel John Quinn of SV Partners revealed that the director of Family Pet and Aquarium, Gaynor Maxine Dwyer, ceased trading before Mr Quinn’s appointment as liquidator.

“The director advised me that the reason for the company’s failure was due to a downturn in sales and significant debts which could not be satisfied as they fell due,” Mr Quinn said.

According to Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) documents, the company allegedly owed $60,815 to secured creditors, $108,990 to employee entitlements, and $578,217 to unsecured creditors.

Rubbish at the site. Picture: Alison Wynd

The documents revealed the company allegedly owed outstanding employee entitlements, including $57,200 for superannuation and $51,784 for annual leave.

ASIC documents also revealed the company allegedly owed hundreds of thousands to unsecured creditors, including $285,902 to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and $294,315 to trade creditors.

Mr Quinn said his preliminary investigations revealed the company appeared to be insolvent from June 2021.

His report indicated that the company began experiencing trading losses during this period, had a net asset deficiency from this time, and for all subsequent periods.

“The preliminary claim against the director for insolvent trading is up to $578,217.18 (the insolvent trading claim), being the balance of the company’s ordinary unsecured debts which remain unpaid as at the date of my appointment,” Mr Quinn said.

Rubbish at the site. Picture: Alison Wynd

“Based on the known asset realisations, it appears unlikely that a dividend will be payable to any class of creditor,” he added.

In a message posted on Facebook, Family Pet and Aquarium thanked their loyal customers for their support over the past 26 years.

“We are all sad that it has come to this … this has been an emotional rollercoaster,” the message said.

In a post on Facebook, they said the fish have been fed and maintained and said the damages that had allegedly been incurred at the property were not accurate.

Family Pet and Aquarium did not respond to a request for comment.

According to their Facebook page, they sold a number of animals including birds, fish and bunnies, as well as reptiles and pet accessories.

Originally published as Geelong store Family Pet and Aquarium placed in liquidation