Kryal Castle owners put brothel plan to bed

PLANS to turn Kryal Castle into a high-end brothel were put to bed at the auction of the Ballarat landmark today.Owners Joyce and Keith Ryall rejected an offer from Melbourne businessman Andrew Hewinson who had plans to turn the tourist destination into an adults-only playground. Secrecy shrouded the lead-up to the auction which took place in the castle's tavern at 11am.Twenty-five interested parties attended the invitation only event which was conducted by private ballot.Ms Ryall said the auction was just a first step in the selling process.Real estate agent Mark Deunk, working on behalf of the Ryall's, is still negotiating with several interested parties from today's auction.Ms Ryall said they were considering the offers even though they weren't as high as Mr Hewinsons as they hoped to have some say on what the building becomes.''We would like to make the final decision on what the castle becomes and we want to make it something Ballarat can be proud of,'' Ms Ryall said.''We don't want to leave Ballarat a legacy of a brothel.''