Kryal Castle brothel plans put to bed 10 years ago

Brunswick brothel owner Andrew Hewinson wanted to transform the popular tourist destination at Warrenheip into an "adults-only playground".

Indicating he wanted the "high-end establishment" to have landing rights for helicopters to fly in VIP clients, he was reportedly willing to pay upwards of $10 million despite the $4.5 million price tag.

But those plans were put to bed in an auction 10 years to the day - on July 23, 2010.

Long-time owners Joyce and Keith Ryall, who built the bluestone medieval castle in 1974, rejected the offer at the invite-only auction inside the castle's tavern, in front of 24 other interested parties.

''We don't want to leave Ballarat the legacy of a brothel," Joyce was quoted as saying at the time.

Mr Hewinson had shown interest in the tourist attraction after running a brothel Pickwood Lodge in Brunswick in Melbourne's north.

Real estate agent Mark Deunk said there was no way the Ryalls would sell Kryal Castle to anybody planning to turn it into a brothel.

''In Joyce's own words, 'it wouldn't matter how much money they offered','' he said at the time.

Moorabool Shire Council revealed days before at a council meeting that Mr Hewinson had had no discussions with council and zoning regulations would prohibit the operations of a brothel.

The land had been classified as a farming zone since 2006.

''I don't know what the person (Mr Hewinson) has done on his own but there has been no dealings with council to speak of,'' Cr Tom Sullivan, of West Moorabool ward, said.

Moorabool Shire mayor Pat Toohey said the provisions of the zoning would make it very difficult for Mr Hewinson.

''The farming zone is not a suitable zone for that type of activity and clearly under statewide planning provisions there'd be significant hurdles before such an activity could occur,'' he said.

Mr and Mrs Ryall stood down from the throne later that year after almost four decades.

Melbourne businessman Jay Finch bought the castle in early 2011 but breached the sale contract and was unable to complete the payment. Tadcaster Hospitality bought the castle in 2012.

They entered into a leasehold agreement with Castle Tourism and Entertainment Pty Ltd, which went into administration in late 2016.

Mr Ryall lost his battle with Alzheimer's disease in May 2015.

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