$4m+ Hamilton Island home where George Clooney once stayed destroyed

A holiday-maker put his volunteer firefighter tag back on to help emergency crews try to salvage an exclusive $4m plus holiday home on Hamilton Island where George Clooney once stayed. NEW PHOTOS, VIDEO

A volunteer firefighter was on holiday on beautiful Hamilton Island when a fire broke out at a luxury house where George Clooney once stayed.

The $4m villa Papillon on the island’s exclusive northern precinct was already well alight when emergency services evacuated more than a dozen people.

Mark Henson was awake with his children to watch the sunrise when he noticed smoke billowing from a house downhill.

The smoke cloud was “getting bigger and bigger” so he headed down to see if he could help, making use of his Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighter training.

When he arrived, most of the occupants were out of the house as he helped make a headcount.

“I made sure no one went back in,” Mr Henson said.

“It’s just that when all the emotions are going, they’ve got all their equipment in there and they wanted to get back in.”

Mark Henson helped volunteer firefighters at a house fire on Hamilton Island while he was on holiday from Sydney. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

Whitsunday Police Station Senior Sergeant Nathan Blain, who arrived on Hamilton Island via a water police vessel from Airlie Beach, said 13 people were inside the house when the fire ignited.

Senior Segeant Blain said all were safely evacuated.

It is understood the family were moved to temporary accommodation on the island following the blaze.

Another neighbour at a Whitsunday Boulevard property said he made sure to take his family to a safe place at the One Tree Hill Lookout, where more than 20 people had gathered, after hearing the fire alarm at 6am.

Gas is “certainly not going to help”

The blaze was initially reported at 5.45am as a barbecue on fire, which had spread to a house.

Senior Segeant Blain said two firefighter crews from Hamilton Island attended, followed by four firefighters and nine police officers who came from the mainland.

Mr Hensen said he could not tell why the fire got so big “without going inside the house” but he had to turn off the gas supply to the property.

Police are still investigating how the blaze began.

Firefighters extinguishing a house fire on Hamilton Island. Picture: Rory Wynbergen

Mr Henson’s sister-in-law’s husband, Rory Wynbergen, who also lended a hand, said they ran a pump down to a neighbour’s pool so firefighters could hose more water at the inferno.

Mr Hensen used water from the neighbour’s pool to feed water to the pumps and keep the watering down of the house ongoing. Picture: Rory Wynbergen

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said the fire was extinguished by 9:15am and had not reached surrounding properties.

Clooney’s Ticket to Paradise house in flames

The $4m villa Papillon on the island’s exclusive northern precinct was created by award-winning architect Chris Beckingham and had seen George Clooney stay at the property.

With stunning oceanfront views, the home was sold in 2018 and it is understood the owners also live on the island.

The home featured seven bedrooms, nine beds and seven bathrooms, an infinity edge swimming pool, gym and cellar, and comes with two golf buggies.

Fire crews battle the blaze that gutted the $4m plus home on Hamilton Island's exclusive Coral Sea Ave. Photo: Rory Wynbergen

A five-night stay at the property totals $20,000.

The home was managed by Laguna Pacific with the company advertising a competition in May to stay in the house George Clooney lived in while filming Ticket To Paradise.

"Ticket To Paradise" featuring Julia Roberts and George Clooney was filmed on Hamilton Island.

Clooney and Roberts spent six weeks living on Hamilton Island while filming the romantic comedy.

The consensus was that the superstars loved their time in Queensland and fit right in with the relaxed lifestyle.

Whether driving the golf buggy down to the local IGA (George and with wife, Amal were known to go for a spin to get all the essentials), a round of golf over on Dent Island, or a sunset drink at the yacht club, here’s where they spent time when off set.

David (George Clooney) and Georgia (Julia Roberts) in Ticket to Paradise, directed by Ol Parker. Photo: Universal Pictures

The Papillon home, where Clooney stayed, features ‘vast and opulent interiors with high ceilings, expansive windows and stacking bi-fold doors’ to create ‘the ultimate in tropical family living’.

The stunning property had kwila timber floorboards while the bedrooms each had their own ensuite bathroom. The Master and VIP rooms had King beds. This site shows off a stunning 3D tour of the home.

'Papillon', at 10 Coral Sea Ave was designed by architect Chris Beckingham.

Police officers closed Coral Sea Ave following the incident and it is understood the road would not reopen until Wednesday morning.

A QFES spokesman said the blaze had caused the “complete structure collapse” of the Coral Sea Ave property.

A Hamilton Island spokesman confirmed there were no serious injuries.

Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed a woman in her 40s was being assessed for minor smoke inhalation.

'Papillon', at 10 Coral Sea Ave.

The Hamilton Island house fire has seen some evacuations of neighbouring properties: Photo: Hamilton Island Visitors

Originally published as $4m+ Hamilton Island home where George Clooney once stayed destroyed