Fishing paradise Sweers Island Resort back on the market for $4m

A remote far north Queensland island renowned for its fishing is back on the market for about $4m after the campaign was shelved last year.

A remote far north Queensland resort island, whose sale last year was shelved, is back on the market and what has been billed as a fishermen’s paradise is expected to attract strong interest.

The exclusive world-renowned Sweers Island Resort in the Gulf of Carpentaria is for sale and before the season started there were more than 700 booked bed nights in the current system.

Tex and Lyn Battle, who were granted a perpetual lease over 30 hectares of the 8km long and 2km wide island 35 years ago, are selling the resort business with a price tag of $3.95m.

Private Islands Online’s Richard Vanhoff the island resort was ”all about fishing”.

“It’s the only legal fishing area within 100 miles (160km),” he said.

“This year the recent rains in the Gulf and Burketown have flushed nutrients out to the islands and the fishing season is off to a bumper start, with trophy fish already in the freezer.”

The ultimate fisherman’s paradise is selling for $3.95m.

Mr Vanhoff said the sales campaign launched last year generated a “fantastic response” but it was put on hold when Mr Battle had an unscheduled hip replacement.

“He’s had a long convalescence and has now come good,” he said. “It’s a retirement situation for them and they wants to move to Cairns where they have a house.”

Last year even though there was medical interruption, the resort still produced more than 1500 bed nights without any marketing or advertising.

“Word of mouth has consistently brought regular groups of guests and their friends back to Sweers Island every year, with some groups making two visits during the season,” Mr Vanhoff said.

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

In the Dry Tropics, the island is surrounded by rock reef 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.

Water is available through the aquifer with a desalination system in place for when required. Power is provided by diesel generators.

There is Telstra phone service and satellite internet with Wi-Fi available for guests in the main lodge area and there is open-air dining and bar facilities.

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

Mr Vanhoff said the island was primed for an upgrade including installing rainwater tanks and changing over to full solar as there is nearly year-round sunshine.

“Someone could come in and also immediately add more accommodation, actually they could double the accommodation and add more boats,” he said. “There is a great opportunity to grow the business to the next level.”