A private retreat on Temple Island on the Great Barrier Reef will be auctioned

The owner of the property near the Great Barrier Reef wants to sell the property for a price well below the average inner city home in a deal that features plenty of ‘boy’s toys’.

A private island retreat on the Great Barrier Reef will be auctioned in May and is expected to sell for well under its original asking price – which is still less than the average inner city home.

The 8.7ha 30-year leasehold on Temple Island, 3km off Cape Palmerston National Park on the Central Queensland coast, has its own 1100m private airstrip and a renovated four-bedroom highset home on the 50ha island’s highest point

Private Islands Online’s Richard Vanhoff says the island blends practical living with untouched natural beauty and is a secluded haven for local wildlife and ensures absolute privacy. It has a four-bedroom high set house and is fully self-sufficient.

The auction is on May 16 at the Ray White One Group Springfield Auction Room and for the cost of $100 potential buyers can fly straight from Mackay Airport to Temple Island on May 11 for an inspection.

The retreat on Temple Island.

The property was originally marked for about $1.75m but Vanhoff says the owner Hamish Henry just “wants to move it”.

Henry, who is now in his 70s, and lives in Queensland, was involved in the Adelaide music scene as a manager and promoter 50 years ago.

He was behind the Myponga rock festival and managed a number of bands including the Bon Scott led Fraternity.

Henry also bought acts like Jerry Lee Lewis, Deep Purple and Manfred Mann to Australia and managed a number of international acts including The Pink Fairies, Focus and Charles Aznavour.

Vanhoff says there has been strong interest in the retreat.

“More than just a property Temple Island is a lifestyle change, a retreat for adventurers and those seeking solace in nature’s embrace,” he says.

“The property comes with a host of equipment, tools and toys – 4.5m tinny, quad bike, trailers, all house furniture, tractor, slasher, ride-on mower – all of which are regularly serviced and well maintained. It’s a turnkey and the new owner can just turn up.”

New deputy

The new Queensland Property Council boss Jess Caire has hit the ground running.

Ms Caire officially started on February 29, taking over from Jen Williams and after six weeks in the top job has secured Jonathan Pavetto as the deputy director.

A senior economist with the AEC Group in Townsville Pavetto is also a apart time public relations officer with the Australian Army.

Caire says Pavetto will be making move to Brisbane and take over the deputy role which she has been juggling with her new job.

“It’s been amazing. I absolutely love it,” she says. “The industry is facing challenges but I think the opportunities ahead outweigh those challenges.”

Queensland Property Council executive director Jess Caire

Originally from Mount Compass in South Australia’s Mount Lofty Ranges, the mother of two teenagers grew up on farm and arrived in Queensland in 2015.

Before joining the Property Council as deputy executive director in 2021 she worked as the executive manager, stakeholder relations at the Property Exchange Australia, and ran and owned her own consulting and conveyancing businesses.

Meanwhile there’s no news on Jen Williams future work direction, with those in the know saying she’s having a “well earned break”.