Maru is a family run business that was originally founded by Mrs. Ruth Heffer and her late husband George. Ruth and George ran a dairy farm in the Cobram area and it was at this early stage in 1974 that Ruth registered the business name of Maru. “Maru” was formed using the first two letters of the family ladies names, Marilyn and Ruth. George and Ruth later moved to Frankston and purchased a block of land in Grantville to ‘retire’ on.

The current Grantville land was originally covered in thick pine trees and had to be cleared and developed. They had only a caravan on site with no power or amenities whilst they built their home. After moving in, Ruth asked George if they could build a small shop on the front of the property as a ‘hobby’ for her to sell goods from and so the original ‘Maru Craft’ at Grantville was established as an outlet for ceramics that the family produced with other local and aboriginal craft and gift lines.

As the business grew and coaches began to stop on their way to Phillip Island, animals were also added. George was fond of animals and there are many stories of one of his favorite wombats following him all around the property, or Charlie the cockatoo (still a Maru resident) perched on George’s shoulder or greeting guests in the shop.

In 1990 Ruth and George’s son Ian took over the business, but they continued to remain involved. In 1997 George sadly passed away, but Ruth is still a daily part of the business and still resides in the private residence on site. The business grew from the original ceramic and craft shop with further extensions to include the food section, a large retail souvenir shop, the Animal Park and in the last five years the addition of the mini-golf and professional animal photography. It was a day that brought back many old memories and stories when on the 3rd of January 2009, after the fire, the charred remains of the original Maru buildings and blue-stone toilets were cleared to make way for the construction of a brand new building that it is hoped will be completed by the end of 2009.