Offshore and local groups cast their eyes over leading eco-resort Pumpkin Island
Two groups — with very different plans — are front runners buy an eco-island resort which won everlasting fame as part of an innovative beer promotion.
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AN award-winning eco-tourism island which once enjoyed a beer soaked reputation has attracted dozens of would be buyers either seeking a quiet safe haven to those with plans to upgrade the property into a 5-star resort.
The 6ha Pumpkin Island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef’s Keppel Group of Islands is being sold by Sojourn Properties who bought the rolling lease in 2003 which is current until 2046.
It has not always been known as Pumpkin Island. It was leased by Castlemaine Perkins between 2012 and 2015 and was renamed XXXX Island as a promotional campaign, with 3000 people visiting the island over those three years.
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Knight Frank’s Pat O’Driscoll said the recently closed campaign attracted “a mixed bag” of more than 100 inquires from Australia and overseas.
“But drilling down into that, we’ve given financials and full details to about 18 groups,” he said.
”We’re in discussions with two at the moment — one Sydney-based group looking a the island as a safe haven or getaway and still run the resort as it is and the other, an offshore corporate group looking to take it up to the next level.”
Pumpkin Island first opened to guests in 1964 and is a private whole island escape for couples, families or groups.
The Rumble family who own Sojourn Properties paid just $1.3 million for the leasehold property 17 years ago and hoped to sell it for around $25 million.
One of Queensland’s most sustainable boutique tourist destinations the island offers eco-friendly accommodation for up to 34 guests in five fully self-contained oceanfront guest cottages and two bungalows with an open-air kitchen and bathroom facilities.
The island is completely off the grid and powered by solar, wind and with plenty of rain water storage.
It is just 14km from Yeppoon and the property also contains staff quarters, a large work shed, a double-storey lookout building, a bar lounge area, a manager’s cottage, a children’s playground, two registered moorings, a helicopter land pad and a custom built 36-passenger catamaran.
An oyster lease also belongs to the owner and can be sold with the island allowing guests to shuck their own oysters off the rocks.
Mr O’Driscoll said while there are two groups in discussions there were a number of others still interested.
However, he said with border restrictions the sales process has slowed.
“Many groups can’t see the island unless they get someone from Queensland on their behalf come up and have a look.
“But we actually do have one group touring the island this week.”
