If you have ever wanted to buy a zoo now's your chance. Halls Gap Zoo owners Greg and Yvonne Culell have confirmed they are selling the popular tourist site after 12 years of ownership. The pair put the zoo on the market on Thursday, March 21, with a price tag of $5.5 million. Mr Culell said the decision to sell the zoo was a tough one. "People who run a small business understand how much work goes into it. "You can say why don't you just employ someone else to run it but there is that emotional tie to it," Mr Culell said. READ MORE: Zawadi the giraffe arrives at Halls Gap Zoo "When you work hard at a business for a long time it is hard to let go and the only way to break that habit is a clean cut." Mr Culell said it is hard to pick just one thing he is proud of, with plenty changing in the time he and Yvonne have owned the business. "When we took over it was a tiny little rundown wildlife park. Now we have 20 employees, spend about $100,000 in advertising a year and contribute quite a significant amount to the growing economy in the Grampians region," he said. "Through all the ups and downs consistent growth in business is probably something we are also really proud of. Since we have owned the zoo we have seen two major bushfires and a major flood." READ MORE: Kifaru the rhino settles well at Halls Gap The business sale includes everything at the zoo. Vehicles, animals, everything is for sale," Mr Culell said. "You also don't need to be an expect to buy it - just someone with a bit of business acumen and that's it." Wimmera Mail-Times
"When you work hard at a business for a long time it is hard to let go and the only way to break that habit is a clean cut."
Mr Culell said it is hard to pick just one thing he is proud of, with plenty changing in the time he and Yvonne have owned the business.
"When we took over it was a tiny little rundown wildlife park. Now we have 20 employees, spend about $100,000 in advertising a year and contribute quite a significant amount to the growing economy in the Grampians region," he said.
"Through all the ups and downs consistent growth in business is probably something we are also really proud of. Since we have owned the zoo we have seen two major bushfires and a major flood."
