Aloha Surfhouse saved from closure

Aloha Surfhouse has been bought by a company connected to local fashion industry personality Natasha Marshall-Donnelly, after the Joondalup-based indoor wave park entered administration in July.

McGrathNicol partners Rob Kirman and Robert Brauer were appointed administrators of the business, which was headed up by director Adam Blackwood.

The wave facility, which opened in February 2018, is at a 1,500 square metre warehouse on Winton Road, and also includes a Clip’n’Climb rock climbing facility.

But early on in the operation, Aloha hit a snag.

The business had trouble with its wave machines, telling customers in a Facebook post last year that American Wave Machines, which supplied the system, had been unable to deliver proper barrel waves.

“As some of you are already aware, we weren’t able to launch our bigger waves when the business opened due to equipment faults,” Mr Balackwood said at the time. 

“Unfortunately, we have been advised this week of a further delay in delivery from our supplier, which means we will need to push out the launch of the barrel.”

Business News understands the business had accumulated losses of $1.6 million by May 2019, and owed about $5 million to creditors, led by Bankwest

Creditors met last Friday, and the facility was bought by Profounder Surf House, which is controlled by Ms Marshall-Donnelly as director.

Ms Marshall-Donnelly works as a fashion buyer at Elle Boutique, a business founded by her mother Wendy Marshall and based in Nedlands.

Unsecured creditors of Aloha are unlikely to receive a return from the sale.

The Aloha corporate entities, which include Aloha Clip N Climb, Aloha Surf, Aloha Surf-House, will be liquidated.