Springmount’s The Tangled Maze will soon become a therapy farm after Child and Family Services (CAFS) Ballarat purchased the property at auction on Friday.
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The popular tourist and wedding venue near Creswick sold for just over $1 million, what Colliers International auctioneer Andrew Lewis described as a “price you wouldn’t be able to put it back together for”.
The Tangled Maze cancelled pre-booked weddings and closed its doors to tourists after declaring bankruptcy in September.
“We wouldn’t put the property here again for the same sort of money, so to that extent it is disappointing. But it sold for the sort of price expectation and we had two competing bidders, so it was a fantastic result,” Mr Lewis said.
Colliers International senior executive Charles Kennedy said there had been a strong interest in The Tangled Maze property from a wide variety of buyers.
CAFS made the final bid of $1,010,000 at auction and the sale was officially announced after the community service organisation accepted the reserve price.
CAFS CEO Allan Joy said the organisation had been searching for the ‘perfect property’ after researching the benefits of providing therapeutic support in a natural environment.
“Our aim is to re-engage young people, individuals and their families by providing a dynamic, experiential opportunity with a strong emphasis on healing through nature as well as animal therapies,” Mr Joy said.
The 1000-square metre building at the venue has the capacity to host up to 200 guests. The property includes an 18-hole mini golf course, bocce courts, outdoor entertainment options, and an indoor ice skating rink within landscaped gardens.
The decision to close the venue in September left devastated couples out of pocket and frantically re-booking their weddings. Mr Kennedy said it was exciting to see the buyers reconnect the venue with the local community.
CAFS will now work to plan therapy services outside a conventional setting and discuss how the community will continue to have access to the property. “It’s an incredibly exciting time and we’re proud to be at the forefront of innovative practice in the sector,” Mr Joy said.
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