Shaun and Samantha Juniper buy Lindeman island resort and plan to restore it to its former glory

A wealthy developer has bought a Great Barrier Reef island resort in desperate need of attention with plans to bring it back to its former glory.

The co-founder of one of Queensland’s largest privately-owned development groups has bought an island resort in the heart of The Great Barrier Reef, with plans to bring it back to its former glory.

Queensland developer and richlister Shaun Juniper and his wife Samantha bought the former Club Med Resort on Lindeman Island which has been locked up for a decade.

Mr Juniper said they were very conscious of delivering “something pretty special” backed by his experience delivering dozens of tourism projects including the iconic Sea Temple resorts.

“I have a long history developing Queensland resorts from Port Douglas all the way down to the Gold Coast,” he said.

“So what I’m doing is delivering my expertise to the island and look at what's already been approved and the tourism market and the island market.”

They are currently working through the relevant State Government approvals and hopeful of completing of the deal in the first quarter of 2023. The deal was struck by CBRE Hotels’ national director Wayne Bunz and associate director Hayley Manvell.

The sale continue a string of Australian richlisters buying Queensland islands.

Other island sales over the past 12 months to Australians include Lizard Island, purchased by billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest.

Long Island, acquired by Sydney hoteliers Bill and Mario Gravanis, owners of Oscars Hotels; Hook Island, purchased by Glenn Piper’s Meridian Australia; and Elysian Retreat on Long Island, sold to entrepreneur Shayne Smyth.

Lindeman Island on the Great Barrier Reef has been sold.

Mr Juniper said he saw tremendous up-side in Lindeman as the Queensland islands ride a wave of interest since the announcement of the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.

“It’s a great time to be the owner of an Australia island resort because there’s been a massive tourism uplift. People re-rediscovering Australia and don’t have to go overseas,” he said.

“That’s the big difference nowadays. People used to search for paradise discovered that paradise in their backyard.”

Mr Juniper refused to comment on what he paid for the island resort which had price expectations of more than $20m.

However, sources say it was “well bought”.

Lindeman Island, off Airlie Beach, was owned by Chinese media mogul William Han’s White Horse Group since 2012. It was put on the marketed after they abandoned decade-long plans to develop a $600m resort and has been locked since then.

Lindeman Island is an expansive 637ha national park area with seven private beaches. It comprises 136ha of perpetual leasehold and four term leases on the southern end of the island, inclusive of the closed resort, golf course and air strip, on an absolute beachfront location with sweeping views of fringing coral reefs.

Lindeman Island on the Great Barrier Reef has been sold.

Mr Bunz said it was an excellent outcome for the Junipers.

“Shaun Juniper is an absolute visionary in the industry responsible for some of Queensland’s best resorts including Sea Temple Palm Cove and Port Douglas and we are excited to see the transformation of this iconic tourism asset,’’ he said.

Ms Manvell said Australian investors were reclaiming some of the nation’s most treasured destinations.

“We are in the midst of an exciting Queensland tourism growth with an under-served accommodation market catering to an incredible resurgence in domestic tourism, as well as the long-heralded return of international travellers.”