Strong demand for Whitsundays’ Shute Harbour Marina development

The Whitsundays’ first major resort development in more than a decade has attracted more than 600 inquiries and more than $21.5m worth of sales contracts since its April launch.

Once complete, the Shute Harbour Marina Resort will encompass a 395-berth marina with individual berths ranging from 10m to 30m on a 99-year lease, and private berths ranging from 25m to 45m.

The Whitsundays’ first major resort development in more than a decade has attracted more than 600 inquiries and more than $21.5m worth of sales contracts since it launched in late April.

Proposed by a group of Adelaide businessmen, the $350m Shute Harbour Marina Resort project has attracted sea changers, retirees, business owners and boaties with its offer of 58 land and berth packages.

“The immediate market response to the resort has been incredible,” Rob Taylor of Taylors Property Group said.

“We knew we had something special on our hands here, but we have been simply inundated with genuine interest – it’s been a whirlwind.

“A large portion of these purchasers are boating enthusiasts who recognise the rarity in such a premier berth location, or those from southern states who have been enticed by the lifestyle offering presented by the resort.”

The largest deal to date is the $2.55m sale of a land and 35m berth package, with the latest influx of interest coming off the back of the Sanctuary Cove Boat show, which accounted for 10 per cent of the inquiries to date, the vast majority coming from boating enthusiasts who were quick to recognise the rarity and value of large-scale berths in Queensland’s Whitsundays.

“A lot of avid sailors have been long awaiting a marina project of this calibre to arrive in the area. Large-scale berths are difficult to secure along the coast right now – all nearby marinas are close to capacity for the forthcoming season,” Mr Taylor said.

An artists’ impression of the Shute Harbour Marina Resort project

Once complete, the Shute Harbour Marina Resort will encompass a 395-berth marina with individual berths ranging from 10m to 30m on a 99-year lease, and private berths ranging from 25m to 45m.

The project will also yield 58 freehold land allotments along with a 100-plus room resort hotel, including function and meeting rooms, bars, restaurants, swimming pool and undercover parking; and 100 managed apartments with resort club ­facilities.

Mr Taylor said there was only 28 vacant residential waterfront lots available in the area at present, and half of these were not within or close to a marina development.

“Although property market ­(prices) in the Whitsundays have increased about 20 per cent over the past 12 months, units are still about 25 per cent below their 2007 peak and land is only just matching the levels of 15 years ago,” Mr Taylor said.

Land-and-berth packages will include private marina facilities to accommodate boats from 25m to 45m. The freehold residential waterfront sites of 440sq m are earmarked for two and three-storey design concepts. Prices start from $1.75m.

Expressions of interest are also being taken on future stages, which will include marina loft apartments and plaza terrace homes.

Development of the first stage of Shute Harbour Marina Resort, which will include the marina and the stage-one release of land and marina berths, is expected to take two years to complete. Construction is targeted to begin in 12 months.