Holiday hot spots gone to ruin: Queensland’s abandoned resorts
Dilapidated, deserted and outright creepy, these tourism destinations in their heyday were the locations to visit for a summer getaway. Now sitting empty, the Queensland holiday resorts are collecting dust. SEE THE PICTURES
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In their heyday these popular Queensland holiday destinations were home to thousands of people every year, tourists and locals who looked forward to soaking in the sunshine by a glistening resort pool.
But years later, the glitz and glam of these tropical retreats has faded away and all that’s left of these once picturesque properties are giant eyesores with a lot left to be fulfilled.
Failed development applications, international owners going bust and cyclone damage have all played a role in the destruction of these once beautiful destinations that have been left to collect dust as each year passes.
With so many resorts across the Whitsundays, Mackay and Laguna Quays left unused, a parliamentary inquiry has been prompted by the Queensland Government with aims to introduce new economic and regulatory frameworks to give these holiday destinations the second life they deserve.
While we await the outcome of the parliamentary inquiry, these former island treasures are left to languish – vandalised, deserted and destroyed.
Take a look at our list of Queensland’s abandoned holiday resorts.
RYDGES CAPRICORN RESORT, YEPPOON
Once a hugely popular holiday spot for both tourists and residents in its heyday, Rydges Capricorn Resort in Yeppoon was formerly home to numerous bars and restaurants, a Japanese garden and holiday accommodation for thousands of guests.
But now, the once-loved holiday destination sits empty, with recent social media footage showing the abandoned resort‘s overgrown gardens, weather damaged structures and deserted pools filled with mossy green water.
Owned by Japanese company Iwasaki Sangyo Co, the resort unexpectedly closed in 2016 with only the Capricorn Golf Course and the ‘Tsuruya’ Japanese restaurant left behind.
During the construction of the resort in the 1980s, angst had been building up regarding the Japanese ownership of the development which led to the construction site being bombed on election day on November 29, 1980.
A retired serviceman John Geissman and his nephew were charged for the attack but were eventually found not guilty in a trial.
The resort opened in 1986 and employed 300 staff to look over the two golf courses, bars, dining and pool which was the largest in the Southern Hemisphere at the time.
In November 2021, plans to redevelop 1150ha of the property were announced – a significantly scaled back version of what was originally a $600m project which included the construction of an airstrip, a five-star eco-retreat, caravan park and plans to accommodate over 20,000 people.
Plans have been lodged to refurbish one of the three existing accommodation buildings which house 5329 people at capacity, a significant decrease of over 15,000 guests.
BRAMPTON ISLAND, MACKAY
Located off the coast of Mackay, Brampton Island Resort once advertised itself as the ultimate holiday destination for couples that “is not like a big city resort”.
Catering to 220 guests, the once tropical retreat featured its own health spa and pool, as well as a selection of fun activities like water skiing, snorkelling, jetskiing and archery.
Purchased by United Petroleum for $5.9 million in 2010, the resort was closed a few months after the new owners came in, with plans to “undergo a major upgrade program” in April 2011 that was never started.
Since 2010, the ‘tropical oasis’ has sat idle, with images showing a graffiti-covered estate with former rooms rotting away with mould and rubbish littered across the island.
With a current estimated leasehold value of $20 million, the existing council-approved development application by United Petroleum for a “seven-star resort” is valid until July 8, 2023.
GREAT KEPPEL ISLAND RESORT
Formerly known as “a great place to get wrecked” in the 1980s, all that remains of the Great Keppel Island Resort is a “great wreck” after its doors were shut in 2008 and Cyclone Debbie destroyed all that remained of the Queensland party island destination.
Tower Holdings closed the resort in the late 2010s after buying the island leasehold for $16.5m in 2006, with plans to redevelop a 250-room beachfront hotel, 300 luxury apartments, 285 luxury villas and a 250-berth marina.
Since then, the only works to be completed on the 970.9ha of development-approved land has been the demolition of 12 buildings in 2018 after Cyclone Debbie, with a main concrete structure kept as a cyclone shelter.
In October 2021, mining magnate Gina Rinehart announced that her company Hancock Prospecting had entered into an agreement to potentially acquire the Great Keppel Island development project from Tower Holdings for an estimated price of around $50m.
However, nothing ever came of the plans after Rinehart announced in June 2022 that she had abandoned the project, a spokesperson from her company stating that based on an extensive review process with relevant stakeholders and government departments, the company decided that “unfortunately it cannot proceed”.
The iconic Great Keppel Island Resort still sits empty, only known now as a hotspot for vandalism.
SOUTH MOLLE ISLAND RESORT, WHITSUNDAYS
Recognised as one of most popular Queensland island resorts in the 80s and 90s, South Molle Island has sat unused and destroyed since Cyclone Debbie ripped through the resort in 2017.
China Capital Investment Group (CCIG) purchased the lease in August 2016 for $24m with plans to build “a large scale redevelopment”, their second development on the island after buying the nearby Daydream Island Resort and Spa (previously known as West Molle) for $30m.
After Cyclone Debbie ravaged through both of the resorts, CCIG invested $140 million into a two-year revamp for Daydream Island resort which reopened in July 2020, meanwhile South Molle Island Resort was left completely untouched, with roofs torn off, structures collapsed and the jetty left twisted by damaging winds.
Following a report about the poor state of South Molle Island in May 2019, CCIG Australian General Manager and Vice President, Dawson Tang responded by saying “South Molle Island will be restored as a world class, five-star tourist resort”.
“We are actively working in partnership with government and the broader tourism industry to deal with the consequences of Cyclone Debbie and plan a renewed future for South Molle.” said Mr Tang in 2019.
Since then, South Molle Island Resort remains untouched with no announced redevelopment plans in the foreseeable future.
CLUB MED RESORT, LINDEMAN ISLAND
Made as a resort for “sports, relaxation, parties, fitness and discovery”, Club Med was formerly the ideal family resort, complete with a 9-hole golf course and a 250 metre private stretch of beach.
But after international owners Club Med sold the iconic Whitsunday resort to White Horse in 2012, the three-star holiday retreat has been deserted for over a decade, with $583m plans to redevelop the abandoned site scrapped.
China-based firm White Horse purchased the resort in the early 2010s for between $10-$12m with aims to build 325 villas, an eco-tourism education centre, restaurants, bars, a nightclub, retail stores, a sport and recreation centre and a staff village.
With plans to complete construction in 2022, White Horse announced in June 2022 that they would be putting Lindeman Island back on the market after ten years’ worth of planning which amounted to nothing.
Local representative of White Horse, Michael Dawn, said in a statement that “With regret that after 10 years of ownership, White Horse has made the decision to divest Lindeman Island”.
Queensland locals and property developers Shaun and Samantha Juniper bought the former Club Med Resort from White Horse in November 2022 with hopes of delivering “something pretty special” to the Queensland resort.
Whether or not the island resort will return to its former glory or remain in its redevelopment limbo is up in the air with detailed plans yet to be announced by its new current owners.
LAGUNA WHITSUNDAYS, MIDGE POINT
Laguna Whitsundays used to be an ultimate tropical paradise, a glamorous holiday resort with an 18-hole golf course and located right next to a lush national park.
But now, the once idyllic holiday destination has been left to languish for decades by its Chinese owners Fullshare Holdings Group.
Swimming pools are empty and full of leaves, structures have been neglected and weeds are growing from every corner of the former Laguna Whitsundays.
Fullshare Holdings Group bought the abandoned holiday destination in 2013 with a vision to turn the former 2800 sqkm piece of land into a “worldwide tourist resort landmark” that can accommodate 15,000 guests.
But their big plans for an international airport, five world-class hotels, a casino, two 18-hole golf courses, a 27-hole golf course and an 860-berth marina have not been mentioned since 2018, with calls from local residents to change up the ownership.
PALMER COOLUM RESORT, SUNSHINE COAST
In 2011, billionaire businessman and chair of the United Australia Party Clive Palmer bought the formerly known Coolum Hyatt Resort with plans to build a dinosaur park featuring 160 animatronic dinosaurs including a 3.5 metre high T-Rex named ‘Jeff’.
Among dreams for a real-life dinosaur park, Palmer also proposed multiple upgrades to the resort within a $2.5bn project for the Sunshine Coast, including hopes to construct a casino, convention centre and monorail between his resort and the airport.
Unfortunately none of those plans eventuated, with the resort closing in 2015, putting 600 staff out of work and forcing Palmer to pay 310 unit holders their quarter shares in a 2020 class action settlement worth $21 million.
Palmer still has hopes to rejuvenate the mothballed resort, announcing in March 2021 that he is dedicating $100 million into redeveloping the abandoned site, including the refurbishment of 116 units. and hopes to construct replicas of famous landmarks including a full-size Trevi Fountain.
What remains at the site is an 18-hole championship golf course designed by architect Robert Trent Jones Jr, recently completed with a Grecian-style cupola featuring an inscription dedicated to Palmer as a ‘Living National Treasure’.
PAJINKA WILDERNESS LODGE, CAPE YORK
Located on the shores of Punsand Bay, this tropical retreat originally opened in 1986 by Bush Pilot Airways and was later taken over in 1992 and renamed the Pajinka Wilderness Lodge.
But when a fire ripped through the resort in 2002, the resort closed for renovations with aims to reopen the following year that never occurred.
After 20 years of sitting graffitied, derelict and abandoned, in 2019 it was announced the resort would be handed back to its traditional owners, the Gudang/Yadhaykenu Aboriginal Corporation with aims to create new opportunities for cultural and tourism purposes.
In July 2022, $2m was allocated for better services at the tip of Cape York, including plans to build a new campground at the site of Pajinka Wilderness Lodge across four stages, the first involving the clean-up of the rainforest boardwalk and current site.
Deputy Chair of the Gudang/Yadhaykenu Aboriginal Corporation Michael Solomon has said future visitors to the Northern Peninsula Area could enjoy displays of traditional dance and food tastings in a move to activate first nation-operated tourism experiences.
THE PEARL WELLNESS RESORT AND SPA, TANBY POINT
Stuck in a decade-long development process, the site of this resort and wellness spa was approved in 2011 for 201 units, commercial space, high-class restaurant and indoor sports facility, but never came to fruition.
Developers Moondaze bought the 3ha block of land near Emu Park in 2007 for $5.96m with plans lodged soon after, yet the holiday retreat has been left derelict with Balinese-style huts standing half built on the empty lot.
However plans from Moondaze never eventuated and the waterfront site remains for sale for the first time in 15 years, with development application approval for over 200 residential dwellings and an unrestricted commercial hotel liquor licence.
Advertised as the ‘new Byron Bay’, the real estate listing describes the site as a ‘booming tourism locale’ only 30 minutes from Rockhampton Airport that has “multi billion dollar approval by the Federal and State governments for a world class tourism resort”.
The property at Lot 5 Haven Rd, Tanby Point has been listed for sale since July 2022.
DOUBLE ISLAND, CAIRNS
Located off the coast of Cairns, Double Island was once the it-holiday spot for major A-listers including Madonna, Guy Ritchie and Keanu Reeves as a private tropical oasis.
But now, the site of the once ideal holiday destination sits abandoned and neglected, with no visitors for almost a decade.
Originally owned by OzEmail tech tycoon Sean Howard, Double Island was a resort accessibly only by launch or helicopter, featuring a 25 metre heated pool, a spa and a meditative Zen garden, marketed as the perfect destination for beachside relaxation.
After some health complications, Mr Howard sold the island for around $8m in 2012 to current owner Fortune Island Holding Company, led by Chinese owner Benny Wu, passing over a 99-year lease with special conditions that the property must be operated for tourism purposes.
Cairns Regional Council inspected the island in 2017 and 2019 and uncovered significant neglect, unauthorised clearing, a non-permitted solar farm and moorings deteriorated to the point of being useless with no tourism activities begun at the site.
Due to the level of neglect, the Department of Resources issued a deadline on March 31, 2023 for Mr Wu to fix the condition of the island’s facilities and begin the operation of Double Island resort as a tourism destination otherwise a remedial action notice will be issued.
ZILZIE BAY RESORT, ZILZIE
Sitting on 41.8 hectares of land, Zilzie Bay Resort, south of Yeppoon, originally opened in 2006 as a $12m clubhouse with the world’s first 18-hole synthetic golf course at the time.
But after the resort was vandalised with damages costing $70,000 in 2010 and further destruction caused the resort to close down in 2013 for refurbishment, the site of Zilzie Resort was only briefly open for functions in 2014 before closing indefinitely.
The abandoned resort was sold for a reported $6.9m to a Chinese company Yuexing Group run by principal Ding Zuo Yong in mid-2018 with plans to build world-class accommodation and tourism facilities including retail and restaurant opportunities that are yet to come to fruition.
The Morning Bulletin approached designers of the proposed works Place Design Group in 2020 for comment about the project, responding that the Zilzie Bay Resort Master Plan was on hold for the “foreseeable future”.
As for the future of the resort, the anticipated plans valued at around $150m remain up in the air.
DUNK ISLAND, MISSION BEACH
Located about four kilometres off Mission Beach, Dunk Island has been through three different owners in the past two years despite being one of only a few freehold islands on the Great Barrier Reef with mainland power connection and a commercial sealed airstrip.
Previously owned by Qantas and cruise line company P & O, Dunk Island was originally home to a 4.5-star family resort with 160 guest rooms, a 9-hole golf course, tennis courts and multiple food and beverage facilities.
After being destroyed by Cyclone Yasi in 2011, the island was acquired by Linc Energy founder Peter Bond for $7.5m and then sold again to financial entrepreneur James Mawhinney in 2020 for $31.5m.
However, the deal eventually fell flat with Mr Mawhinney’s company Mayfair 101 failing to meet their payment obligations and the island taken back after only 11 months by Peter Bond.
Dunk Island now lies in the hands of billionaire tech owners Annie and Mike Cannon-Brookes who purchased the island for $23.6m in July and have already announced major plans to abandon the airstrip in favour of ferrying guests by helicopter and boat.
Plans are yet to be lodged with the local Cassowary Council however negotiations for an infrastructure agreement have begun.
A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Rydges Capricorn Resort once provided accommodation for over 20,000 guests. This mistake has now been amended.
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Originally published as Holiday hot spots gone to ruin: Queensland’s abandoned resorts
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