Aussie’s Buy Back Resort Islands

A swathe of Whitsunday Island Resorts have been bought by Australian investors over the past few years, sparking the revival of many once thriving tourists hubs that have since become rundown wrecks.

Sydney hoteliers and brothers Bill and Mario Gravanis of Oscars Hotel Group acquired Long Island Resort for over $20 million in 2021 and now have plans to create an upscale resort on the existing site.  

It has been abandoned for five years but was previously owned by Sydney-based investor David Kingston, who also owned Club Crocodile in Airlie Beach.

Prior to this it was developed as a resort by Contiki.

The prevalence of Australian investors buying up Whitsunday Island Resorts was further cemented with the purchase of Hook Island Lodge by 35-year-old hospitality star Glenn Piper of Meridian Australia in May this year.

This young entrepreneur is a relative newcomer in the hospitality industry and has invested over $100 million on resorts and pubs since 2020.

Glenn bought the lease on 9.3 hectares of Hook Island for $10 million and plans to invest a further $20 million to create a ‘barefoot luxury’ resort.

Lindeman Island is the most recent resort to receive strong Australian investment.

In November, it was acquired by Queensland property developer Shaun Juniper and wife Samantha for an amount which is speculated to be upwards of $20 million.

The island resort was previously purchased by Media mogul William Han from White Horse Group who bought the property in 2012 for $12 million.

Despite $600 million worth of plans for a luxury upgrade, it has spent the last decade abandoned.

Prior to this it had been a Club Med -- a popular European resort chain which was frequented by locals and tourists in droves.

Shaun Juniper now plans to transform the island into an international health and nature retreat with the country’s best gym, top practitioners and six-star facilities.

With an on-island airstrip, high-end tourists will be able to fly directly from urban centres.

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP says this is an exciting time for the Whitsundays and that “in a post Covid world, we have realised what we have on back doorstep”.

She adds, however, that it is vital we have a “mixture of product offerings and experiences from basic camping through to luxury options.”

With six-star luxury plans at the Whitsundays’ doorstep, the question remains whether these islands will remain ‘closed’ to most residents, given that the price point is so high.

Despite this issue, the most positive outcome is that the island resorts will receive a much-needed facelift.

“It’s a great opportunity to have investment in our region from Australians who may be passionate about our natural assets and see the opportunity,” The Member for Whitsunday said.

“The important factor is that they are developed and operated sustainably and would be great if they can align and capitalise on our brand Whitsunday.”

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Lindeman Island was purchased by Australian investors in November. This is the third resort island to be bought by Aussies in the past two years. Photo: supplied

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