First look: Kangaroo Island set for two major tourist developments

Tourism is set to boom in one of SA’s most unique destinations with dual state-first gin academy and luxury chalet proposals expected to spur a new wave of visitors.

Developers and investors have issued a vote of confidence in SA’s island getaway with almost $4m of developments put forward, including a state-first gin retreat.

The first proposal, from world-renowned Mighty Craft, which owns Kangaroo Island Distillery, is a $3m gin academy and tourist accommodation.

If approved, the academy would be built at a former health retreat site on Bates Road at Emu Bay and offer nine individual tourism units.

On the site would be a 5L pot still, used for demonstrations of gin distilling.

The application by Mighty Craft also reveals key plans for the “academy”, which could see attendees undertake an “intensive educational distilling certification course”.

Artist visualisations from a proposed KI Gin distilling academy and retreat. Picture: Looka Design

Artist visualisations from a proposed KI Gin distilling academy and retreat. Picture: Looka Design

The proposed KI Gin distilling academy and retreat. Picture: Looka Design

Mighty Craft’s co-founder and director Stuart Morton told The Advertiser he was excited by what the future held for the “unique training facility”.

“The Spirits Academy at Emu Bay is set to become a centre of learning, innovation, and excellence for Australian and international distilling talent,” he said.

“As an industry-leading resource, it will be headed by some of the finest distillers in Australia and used to train overseas students and new distilling staff.

“It will also be available for anyone in the distilling industry who wants to enhance their technical distilling expertise.

“As Kangaroo Island rebounds from the devastating 2020 bushfires, the Academy will be a great addition to the island’s recovering tourism scene and a hub for creating new and innovative gins and spirits for locals and visitors alike to enjoy.”

The Victorian-based company has become a key player in the Australian liquor market and also owns Seven Seasons and 78 Degrees Gin, Mismatch Brewing, Better Beer and Hills Cider among other brands.

Seven Seasons is responsible for award-winning Australian mixes Green Ant Gin and Bush Apple Gin, which were founded by former Port Power star Daniel Motlop through his brand Something Wild.

Kangaroo Island Council mayor Michael Pengilly said he was thrilled to see the company, which bought Kangaroo Island Spirits in March last year, make the $3m proposal.

He said, if approved, he expected it would see tourists flock to the island.

“It sounds like it would be a worthwhile project and I’d certainly be encouraging it,” he said.

“It’s probably in the best interest of the island … it promotes tourism, local experiences and brings more people to the island.”

The Mighty Craft proposal came at the same time as another $800,000 plan from 1834 Hotels boss Andrew Bullock, at Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge.

An artist visualisation of the American River proposal. Picture: Openhouse

1834 Hotels chief executive Andrew Bullock. Picture: Michael Marschall

The proposal was foreshadowed earlier this year when Mr Bullock acquired the KI lodge and told The Advertiser about a “renaissance” in domestic tourism.

“Kangaroo Island has such a wonderful base of domestic tourism, but also when the international recovers we’re really confident that KI is going to be a major player in the regional tourism space,” he said at the time.

Mr Bullock’s plan, about half-an-hour’s drive from Emu Bay at American River, proposes eight luxury chalets built overlooking picturesque Mutton Fish Beach, and nestled alongside the existing Mercure accommodation.

The application, made by Openhouse architect Wing Hing Chong, describes the necessity of the chalets to cater for “rising demand for tourist accommodation in Kangaroo Island”.