ResortBrokers’ longtime South Australia broker Kelli Crouch has sold the freehold going concern of Murray Bridge Marina & Camping and Caravan Park, 75 km southeast of Adelaide.

The marina–park’s huge, 12-hectare site along the Murray River consists of 156 accommodations including 82 caravan sites, 11 cabins, 60 marina berths and three houseboats.

ResortBrokers sold the property on behalf of the Spry family whose father, the late Ray Spry, established the marina–park in 1986 and continued to build it up over its 38-year life.

Mr Spry was a well-known Murray Bridge identity who owned and operated a successful earth moving business. He bought the site of the marina-park from a relative and worked developing it as a labour of love in his spare time until he passed in 2019.

The property was purchased by the Orkens, a well-known South Australian park family with interests in BIG4 Port Willunga Tourist Park and BIG4 Mount Compass Caravan Park. The Orkens first entered the caravan park industry in the 1990s when they operated Oasis Tourist Park in Coober Pedy. They also previously operated Victor Harbor Holiday Park in Victor Harbour where the family grew up.

“We’re really looking forward to building on what’s here in Murray Bridge and taking it to the next level,” says Dan Orken on behalf of the Orken family.

ResortBrokers sold the Murray Bridge marina–park by way of an expressions of interest campaign. The agency had the property under contract within four weeks of listing and ultimately achieved a record yield for a ResortBrokers’ sale in South Australia.

“We didn’t want to cap the value because the asset, even though it’s large now, still has significant development potential with surplus land available,” says Ms Crouch, who was assisted in the sale by ResortBrokers’ agent David Faiers.

“Caravan park freeholds are rare in South Australia, so we knew interest in this offering would be very strong.”

ResortBrokers received over 70 enquiries on the listing, resulting in four highly competitive offers from experienced park operators: three from South Australia, the other from New South Wales.

“We weren’t surprised by the interest this property received,” says Ms Crouch. “Ray Spry built an incredible marina–park that became a Murray Bridge institution. As a business, the park has traded extremely well over almost four decades. The only decline was in the unprecedented Covid period; other than that the business has been on a steady upward trajectory, an incredible testament to what Ray Spry built from the ground up.”

“Ray was a visionary, a hardworking man whose dream was to create a special place where people could relax, enjoy the river and feel at home,” says Kelle Spry on behalf of the Spry family.

“It’s incredibly hard to let go of something so deeply connected to our family. The park meant so much to Ray and to the local community he cared about so much. For these reasons, we weren’t keen on the property being sold to a big corporation and are happy it has passed into the good hands of another park-orientated family. The Orkens have the passion, resources and dedication to take the park forward in ways that would have made Ray proud.”

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