Alder Developments buys head lease on Bowen Marina

A Queensland marina which is a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef has changed hands and the new owners have promised a multimillion dollar makeover.

Queensland-based construction and development company Alder is the new owner of the Bowen marina.

The Bowen marina’s head lease has changed hands to a development company that promises a full makeover that would bring a variety of businesses to the seaside town.

Queensland-based construction and development company Alder will be next in charge of a state-owned 8,336sqm parcel of land at the end of Henry Darwen Memorial Drive at the Bowen marina.

The purchase includes two main buildings and 22 marina berths fit for vessels from 10 to 20 plus metres requiring short, medium and long term berthing.

An Alder spokeswoman said the company intended to rejuvenate the precinct by removing some unused assets such as three old cold rooms and the water hydrant pipes.

Some of the structures will be refurbished, including the front fence and front gate, a new entrance to the marina berth gangways as well as the addition of new modern electrical circuits and lighting.

The Bowen Marina is still in operation, but has only two tenants - with the previous owner reportedly using the space mainly for his personal use.

The new owner hoped a renovation would increase tenant numbers to six, turning the space into a thriving commercial hotspot.

A lot on Henry Darwen Memorial Drive, Bowen has changed hands to construction company Alder.

Alder General Manager of Developments Greg Tupicoff said the marina was located in a prime vantage point “on the fringe of one of the largest and best-known coral reefs in the world”.

“With the transition to the new ownership we plan to [...] investigate the future potential of the facility in consultation with local government, state government and the community,” Mr Tupicoff said.

The spokeswoman said the project would be done in three phases, totalling $2-3m over three years.

Bowen Boat Harbour or Marina.

“The first phase is the refurbishment works, and the second phase is some new improvements to the entire Bowen Marina asset,” she said.

“The third phase is subject to the TMR masterplan and TMR approval which could see the marina asset provide a strong anchor into the overall vision for Bowen which council is planning.”

This is in reference to the Whitsunday Regional Council’s masterplanned new marine educational facility for the town.

The company is now on the lookout for prospective tenants from tourism-related businesses such as fishing charters, jetski tours, commercial fishing operations, as well as land-based marine repair services.

“We would love to see more diverse uses such as restaurants, microbrewery’s and similar tourism uses in the Bowen Harbour in the not too distant future,” Mr Tupicoff said.

This is not the first time Alder Developments has invested in the Whitsudnay region with the most recent project in the pipeline being the Cannon Valley Master Planned Community project while they purchased and developed the Airlie Summit land in 2022, with subdivided lookout release lots now on offer.

Originally published as Alder Developments buys head lease on Bowen Marina