No pineapple for the Bowdens???

Jim Goose · 12-04-2011, 10:06 PM

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...412-1dbz6.html

Car museum plans get rough end of the Big Pineapple
Lindsey Cuthbertson
April 12, 2011 - 12:50PM

Plans to convert the Big Pineapple into a motor museum have run out of gas, with the Sunshine Coast tourist attraction once again for sale on the open market.

Late last year it appeared the sale of the Big Pineapple to Buderim's Bowden family was a done deal, but the contract has not been finalised due to family concerns about some aspects of the deal.

A spokesman for PPB, the property's receiver, said today they are still hopeful they could work out an agreement with the Bowdens.
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“At the moment there is no contract capable of settlement. Discussions continue and we're hopeful for a resolution,” he said.

The spokesman said PPB was also looking at other options to sell the Big Pineapple.

“We're continuing discussions with the original buyers as well as [other interested buyers],” he said.

“It's a very prime piece of property so there is always interest.

“We're certainly hopeful of a resolution...at the moment there is no contract so we certainly will speak to parties.”

Sunshine Coast Council's Cultural Heritage Reference Group chair Anna Grosskreutz said she was hopeful a deal can be struck soon, as she was concerned about the deterioration and unkempt appearance of the tourist attraction.

“For decades it was kept in pristine condition and was an icon to the coast, and I know from feedback that residents would like to see it returned to its former glory,” she said.

“We don't know what's going on behind the scenes because it's a commercial-in-confidence arrangement. What the general person would see is an icon beginning to look shabby.”

Cr Grosskreutz said that the Bowden family's plan to purchase the property and showcase their personal collection of Australian racing cars alongside the 15 metre pineapple filled residents with “lots of excitement”.

“It's a type of attraction that we don't have, and it would also attract another audience to the region,” she said.

“We are hopeful [that the sale goes ahead], because most people are wondering about what's going on there. You feel a sense of sadness as you drive past because it looks so neglected.”

The Bowden family were unavailable for comment.

BIGJB · 12-04-2011, 10:23 PM

These 2 statements are from facebook so here is hoping. First comment was around mid afternoon.

Quote:

Bowden's Own Premium Car Care
Been a big day of meetings, tomorrow looking to be is even bigger, everything is looking good for the collections new home, regardless what some media channel's have said!

Quote:

we are still sorting it out, it's pretty close to being done.
about an hour ago · Like

Jim Goose · 12-04-2011, 10:31 PM

ooooh....well one hopes so!

BIGJB · 12-04-2011, 10:53 PM

I do hope it all goes ahead. I am very much looking forward to seeing the collection first hand.

FGX-351 · 13-04-2011, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGJB

I do hope it all goes ahead. I am very much looking forward to seeing the collection first hand.

+1 for sure

2011G6E · 13-04-2011, 02:51 AM

Let's hope it goes ahead! I wasn't even aware the Big Pineapple had shut, until I was down there in early March and was driving past...I was going to stop in just to get off the highway and set up my GPS, not to go inside and get one of the excellent parfaits they made there, or buy a big bag of hot roasted macadamias...nope, definately not...

...it was only then I saw the place was all closed up. Very sad...I'd been going there since I was a kid in Nambour back in the seventies.

**buggerlugs** · 13-04-2011, 08:53 AM

They had all their plant and stock auctioned on Graysonline this week

XR6TCraig · 13-04-2011, 09:12 AM

One of the Bowdens was interviewed on ABC radio on Monday regarding this, according to my old man, who I spoke to on the phone yesterday.

Appartently there is a fair amount of confidence being conveyed in the interview, that the sale and subsequent conversion into a motoring museum will still go ahead, albeit not in the time frame originally planned. There were just a few small issues to be sorted out first so that the property could change hands.

The old man also mentioned that he had seen adds in the local paper ( he is Sunshine Coast based) for the Auction of the gear as per the above post.

fmc351 · 13-04-2011, 10:43 AM

Heres hoping.

Living nearby, I hear many rumours (some from people who would know, you know the type, lived here forever, and know everyone else who has), the one consistent rumour is it has to do with Heritage restrictions, or more to the point, the cost of restoring and maintaining the place as the icon it is. The figure on repairs etc is said to be around $6mil.

Heres hoping they are just rumours, or something can be worked out. If it is $6 mil, I hope that includes bringing back the parfaits the place was famous for.

BIGJB · 13-04-2011, 11:09 AM

I would believe that it needs a fortune spent on the place. I took the kids there about 3 yrs ago as I had
a lot of memories of going there myself as a child and I am sad to say the place was well to put it bluntly a s... hole.
Very run down and in need of a major revamp. So I can only imagine what another 3 years on it would be like.

irlewy86 · 13-04-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmc351

....

Heres hoping they are just rumours, or something can be worked out. If it is $6 mil, I hope that includes bringing back the parfaits the place was famous for.

I'd do terrible things to good people for a Big Pineapple parfait.

TheSneakiness · 13-04-2011, 02:56 PM

Looks absolutely terrible (in laws live in the area)

An absolute eyesore if you drive past it.

kenz · 13-04-2011, 05:08 PM

What's with the pineapple story today
Yesterday at 12:57 via iPhone

Dan Bowden: It's cool, our local paper has again jumped the gun with some fine reporting yet again. Sells papers I hear, we are getting a bit of a laugh from it!

**DJM83** · 13-04-2011, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rapid_Axe

Looks absolutely terrible (in laws live in the area)

An absolute eyesore if you drive past it.

It is indeed hopefully it all comes together.

**buggerlugs** · 13-04-2011, 08:12 PM

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au...-deal-falters/

2011G6E · 13-04-2011, 08:31 PM

I never really understood how it fell on it's backside like it did...every time you went there it was full of people, overseas tourists by the busload were common, and everyone you spoke to loved going there. How the hell could the owners get it all so wrong? It was one of the few places that all people of all ages could get something out of, and was a tropical paradise, especially down towards the bottom of the hill where the small zoo was located.

One of those sad places from our childhoods that is probably going to fade away...

fmc351 · 13-04-2011, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

I never really understood how it fell on it's backside like it did...every time you went there it was full of people, overseas tourists by the busload were common, and everyone you spoke to loved going there. How the hell could the owners get it all so wrong? It was one of the few places that all people of all ages could get something out of, and was a tropical paradise, especially down towards the bottom of the hill where the small zoo was located.

One of those sad places from our childhoods that is probably going to fade away...

Im going to guess it made money, but the ratio of profit to investment (including time etc) was not enough to warrant not moving that investment to other more lucrative things.

I drive past it often, and it wasnt always that busy. Was never dead, but often enough there were less than 20 cars in both carparks. Some of them are staff. Sure in holidays it could be much busier, buts thats a very limited window of opportunity.

uranium_death · 13-04-2011, 11:46 PM

To the Pineapple Mobile!

The Lone Ranger · 16-04-2011, 09:11 AM

More here http://www.couriermail.com.au/proper...-1226039874272

flappist · 16-04-2011, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENIAL8

More here http://www.couriermail.com.au/proper...-1226039874272

Now that is financial genius at work.

The ATO is owed $500k so the shut it down and let it rot.

$500k is enough money to make a boatramp on a river provided it is a small river or even a build a statue of a swagman near a billabong.

Geez it is about a days income from speed cameras......

No wonder this country is in such a mess.

xr6turbo2005 · 16-04-2011, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

Now that is financial genius at work.

The ATO is owed $500k so the shut it down and let it rot.

yes, but doesn't the story say the ATO was trying to have it would up since 2003. Two sides to every story and i'd say that the ATO was most likely not the only one owed money.