Replica ship still aground - Takeaway not popular

THE next port of call for Warrnambool's Mahogany Ship replica on the site of the former McDonald's restaurant remains unclear six months after it was offered free to a good home.McDonald's franchisee Trevor Hawker, who paid $100,000 to build the ship, said yesterday a number of parties were still making inquiries about taking it off the site.Mr Hawker said Warrnambool City Council had chosen not to take up the opportunity of moving the ship to the previously mooted sites of either Flagstaff Hill or Lake Pertobe."We've had a number of people make inquiries to the transfer of the ship," he said.Mr Hawker built the five-metre replica caravel to highlight the city's connection with the maritime mystery and as a playground and party venue for children. He said the Raglan Parade site, which is owned by McDonald's, was still being presented to a number of real estate agents and was expected to be put on the market in the next few weeks.The property was due to go on the market in September. The restaurant was closed a month ago and Mr Hawker transferred the franchise to the recently opened Flying Horse Inn site further east.The renewed effort to sell the property, which adjoins the Warrnambool Holiday Park, comes as Warrnambool City Council has aired plans to find additional caravan park sites to house the growing influx of summer tourists.Mr Hawker was unsure what the future held for the site, which is expected to have a seven-figure price tag, but agreed a caravan park extension could be an option. "I am sure there could be an arrangement made with the parties for that to work."Warrnambool Holiday Park lease-holder and co-manager John Mordaunt said he believed the McDonald's site had already been sold. However, he said the opportunity to extend the park onto the neighbouring property would be "very interesting", but any decision to buy would be up to the park's landlords.