Vol. No. Vol. 2518No. 8 27
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Wednesday, 13, 2022 2016 Wednesday,January August 24,
GARDEN HOPE: Toy’s Garden Restaurant will close when current stock runs out after the property, with its famous Chinese garden, sold last week. Business founder Leon Toy said he could only ‘hope’ his garden would ‘last forever’, even if the future of the 2.8-hectare site was still unknown. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
End of an era T
BY MICHAEL SCALZO
he book has now closed on a famous chapter in Horsham’s culinary history as an unknown buyer snaps up one of the region’s cultural institutions.
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Toy’s Garden Restaurant, its Chinese gardens and expansive 2.8-hectare grounds sold last week, after more than 18 months on the market. But while the future of its buildings remain a mystery, for now, founder Leon Toy said he can ‘only hope’ the curated and well-established garden attraction would remain a permanent feature in Horsham. “Hope is one thing; whether they will is another,” he said.
“It would be nice to have a legacy from what went on here. For me, it is almost a God-given garden, the effort and money and determination it took. “The building is just a building, but the garden is something that could go on forever. “I always wanted this to be a tourist attraction, where I could do something useful as well as cooking because for me, I am here for a reason. “Now I have done my bit and everything I could – I have reached my pinnacle and I don’t think I could have gone any higher.” Wes Davidson, of Horsham’s Wes Davidson Real Estate, said there had been varied interest from potential
buyers who considered purchasing the property with a range of business propositions in mind. He said the property on Stawell Road, Horsham, and within ‘general residential zoning’, was considered for continued restaurant trade, as a potential commercial development site, and for semi-commercial and residential development opportunities. For the time being at least, a confidentiality clause within the sale contract prevents identification of the property’s buyer. Mr Toy said no more stock was ordered, and when it ran out, the business would close. “We have to clear out of here by
October, but we will be trading until the food runs out. If we sell out tomorrow, we close tomorrow. We are expecting a very big takeaway weekend ahead,” he said. “After almost 50 years in the game, I am relieved it has sold. It means I don’t have to carry the burden of running a business. “It is such a long time – when I started at 24 years-old, I had a staff member who was 46 – now she is 92. Another was 23, now she is 70. “For all this I am grateful to my staff and loyal customers who have stuck with us for this long.” Continued page 3
ININ THIS ISSUE • Crisis accommodation • Quantong residents stand strong • Football-netball action THIS ISSUE • Taskforce outlinesplan priorities • Council pushes ahead • Football-netball finals Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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