Echuca Gardens
The Offer
On offer for sale are two dwellings on a single title with a well-established lodging business. The sale is inclusive of the
furnishings in the guest sections, a business website, a business name and all forward bookings but excludes the two gypsy wagons.
The Property
The property is located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac just next to the 1400 acres Banyule Park State Forest and at a short distance to the town centre and the historic port precinct on the mighty Murray river.
The improvements on this flat 1,000 sq. m land consist of a two-level split log house to the front and a 155 year old fully restored Victorian (circa 1869) classic timber-cutting cottage to the rear. The house (approx. 320 sq. m) contains 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms in total and the cottage (approx. 100 sq. m) contains 3 bedrooms and 2 newly restored bathrooms.
The ground floor level of the house is configured to suit the current lifestyle of its owner. It comprises of the front office, a craft room, a display room and a living room on the one side and a bedroom with ensuite bathroom, double shower, sauna and spa on the other side.
The upper floor level is currently split into a private section and a section for guests with its own private entry from the side of the house. The private section consists of an open plan kitchen, dining and lounge area that connects to the master bedroom via an enclosed verandah (the large bedroom has an ensuite and walk-in robe).
The guest section comprises of two double bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom and a balcony. The main bedroom has a separate TV lounge area. A new full kitchen is also provided making the offering ideal for 2 couples or a small family.
The cottage has a richly decorated lounge with pressed metal high ceilings and original polished floors, an adjoining dining room and a newly refurbished, fully-equipped kitchen as well as a laundry that leads to private back gardens with barbeque facilities.
The property has several innovative and elaborate gardens, each designed to soothe and relax with water as a central feature. The gardens are also bound by large art murals depicting historic scenes from Echuca’s bustling paddle steamer times.
The Business
The lodging business started in Jan 1992 as YHA hostel then grew into a BnB before changing again into a self-contained accommodation model in 2011. Accommodating large and small families as well as couples or social groups travelling together, Echuca Gardens is well established with a long track record. It enjoys repeat business and a good reputation as pet friendly lodging, which is proving to be very popular.
The business is very easy to run with no food offering. The current owner takes extended leave from April to September on annual basis leaving a caretaker to manage the property in his absence. Despite this, the turnover has been growing consistently year on year. There is room for growth for new operators willing to be more hands on.
The Location
The charming and historical country town of Echuca is located just over 2.5 hour easy drive from Melbourne (214 km) on the banks of the Murray River and Campaspe River. Besides being a major regional service economy with important agriculture industries, this heritage icon town of approx. 14,000 residents is a popular destination for tourists and receives visitors throughout the year. Visitors are attracted to the town by its wonderful climate and its beautiful location along the Murray River as well as its myriad recreational attractions (such as swimming, boating and fishing), and numerous historical features and rich colonial heritage, including the Port of Echuca, which has the world’s largest fleet of operating paddle steamers. It is also well known for its many cafes and eateries and regular festivals and events such as the Club Marine Southern 80 water ski race, the largest of its kind in the world, the Riverboats Music Festival, the Steam Rally Echuca, and the Winter Blues Festival.
Agent’s Opinion:
This is a substantial property with many attractive features including an easy to run business. The land use is maximised for the benefit of the owner and the guests. Although comfortable and cosy as is, there are many possibilities for improvements as the property layout and décor is specific to the taste and lifestyle of its current owner. A discerning buyer would see that there are plenty of options to customise the property and to increase the business with a more hands on approach.
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