Sweers Island Resort sold with new owners wanting to retain `the happy vibe’

A couple have made the catch of their lives, landing a remote Far North Queensland island resort world renowned for its `trophy’ fishing.

A couple who have been visiting a Far North Queensland island resort for years have bought the property aiming to retain “the legacy” created by the original owners of the world renowned fishing haunt.

Mt Isa-based Mick McConachy and his wife Kathleen have bought Sweers Island Resort in the Gulf of Carpentaria from Tex and Lyn Battle who had been operating it since being granted a perpetual lease over part of the island 35 years ago.

Mr McConachy said he and his wife were fishing enthusiasts.

“I first came up here 18 years ago and I’ve been coming up here on and off ever since and I love the place,” he said.

“So we’ll keep the same happy atmosphere going and keep Tex and Lyn’s legacy and do some minor improvements around the place and continue the same happy vibe.”

The couple own MAK Diesel & Earthmoving and with their children in primary school will appoint a manager to run the resort but they will be regular visitors.

Ms McConachy said their new venture will be a “challenge”.

“It’s exciting and we’ll be diversifying from what we currently do,” she said

Kathleen and Mick McConachy and Tex and Lyn Battle at Sweers Island Resort.

The deal was struck by Private Islands Online’s Richard Vanhoff who said the interest in the island resort “was bloody unbelievable”. “It was fantastic, one of the better campaigns we’ve run,” he said.

The sale price has not been disclosed but the resort was marketed for around $3.9m.

Mr and Mrs Battle had a perpetual lease over 30ha of the 8km long and 2km wide island.

In the Dry Tropics, the island is surrounded by rock reefs with coral and is just 32km off the coast, directly north of Burketown. The main airstrip is 1100m long and there is a second 800m wet-weather emergency strip.

There are seven cabins of assorted sizes catering for 27 guests and separate fully-contained houses for staff and managers/owners.

A remote far north Queensland Seers Island resort described as the “ultimate fisherman's paradise” – where many a tall tale has been told – has been told.

Mr Battle said it was the end of an era.

“There will be mixed emotions when we go but I’ve pretty much got to go, my date of birth is too far away,” he said.

“We could not have got better people to take it over. It needed someone who will take it to the next level keep the same format and same atmosphere and Mick and Kathleen are keen to do that.”

The Battles are still on the island and a book on the history of Sweers Island is a retirement project when they finally move to Cairns.

Mrs Battle said they will spend the next year helping the McConachy’s with the business.

“It's a big change for us because I’ve spent more time here than anywhere else in the world so it’s a big transition,” she said.

“We’re also hoping to keep in contact with a lot of Sweers Island’s guests and see them in Cairns.”