Inside Qld’s private islands for sale
The Sunshine State is synonymous with its idyllic islands, and you can pick up your own little slice of paradise for the price of a Brisbane house.
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A private island may be rare to come by, but there are currently some up for grabs for around the same price as a Brisbane house.
From a slice of paradise in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef to a resort off the coast of Cairns, there are several Sunshine State islands on the market.
Queensland Sotheby’s Realty media director Lynne Malone said showing a private island is very different experience to displaying a house in the suburbs.
She said there is often a lot of extra and unique forms of travel involved.
“Typically to go to Victor Island, it’s a flight to Mackay then helicopter to the island where they have an ideal landing spot,” she said.
To go to Pumpkin Island she flies to Rockhampton, drives to Yeppoon then gets a private ferry.
“It’s got to be well planned,” she said.
“When I do it at Pumpkin Island, we stay overnight. The buyers want to experience it, they are self catering so we go over and have it catered.
“Then we show them everything you need to enjoy the beautiful sunrises, the person that wants an island either wants privacy or lots of activities.”
Australian Islands agent Richard Vanhoff said his personal selection process when it came to who he took to islands changed over time, having become a bit more stringent then it used to be.
“I question clients a lot more now,” he said.
“We’ve had a few people that have rung up, they’ve gone to visit the island with permission of the owner they’ve wanted to stay a few nights.”
But it didn’t always result in a sale, with some just after a free holiday on an island.
“I got calls from people that would say ‘I want this island. I don’t have to argue about the price’. They go ‘can you send me a contract’,” he said.
“I’ll send off a contract and I’ll chase it up and they will say we’ve decided not to go ahead.” He said one lady once called up a few days later saying they couldn’t go ahead with the purchase of an island anymore because her psychic told her she was going to win the lotto and she didn’t.
But Mr Vanhoff said the people that do go through with buying the islands often end up with some extra baggage.
“I think one of the major things is that when they buy an island they think it’s going to be serenity, it’s going to be easy then they find they had more friends they ever wished they had,” he said.
“They are forever entertaining people. People love coming to other peoples islands, it makes it a fabulous place to go.”
He said there were currently a few fabulous private islands for sale off the coast of Queensland.
“It’s pretty rare, they generally have at a minimum I guess, a five year turnover, the rest may hang on for twenty or thirty years,” he said.
VICTOR ISLAND
Price: Around $4 million
Location: Whitsundays
A rare opportunity to own an Island in the Great Barrier Reef became available at the end of 2022 less than a year after it was snapped up by interstate visitors.
The Island has been privately owned since the 1940s, only being listed for sale a small number of times in more than 30 years.
It was sold in March for $3,655,500 by the same agents before being relisted again.
It is located about 3km off the coast of Mackay, accessible by motorboat or by helicopter from Mackay Airport.
The main residence is 350 sqm set on about 3.25ha.
Queensland Sotheby’s Realty media director Lynne Malone said there was lots to do on the property.
“Right now there is one main house, four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a big entertainers kitchen so ideal for cooking and particularly if you catch the fish of the day,” she said.
The property includes a swimming pool and has access to NBN.
“There‘s a private island with a lot of trees and vegetation and open areas with trails and nature paths that you go through the property,” she said.
“There’s a vegetable garden plus the chickens which are called the girls and they supply more eggs than you could eat on a daily basis.”
The island has a helipad and is sustainably powered by solar energy including a back up panel.
PUMPKIN ISLAND
Price: $25 million
Location: 13.8 km from Yeppoon
Tenure: Perpetual leasehold
The award-winning boutique Pumpkin Island has been on the market since 2020, the first time since 1961.
The owners have asked for a potential price tag of about $25m for the six hectare private island.
The island has seven cottages that fits up to 34 people with gorgeous views.
Each cottage is self-contained and eco friendly with large private decks which has views of the sunset.
The island is a 45 minute ferry from Keppel Bay Marina at Yeppoon which is about a 45 minute drive from Rockhampton Airport.
Queensland Sotheby’s Realty media director Lynne Malone said it was a fabulous location.
“They have a beautiful swimming beach, when I was there we kayaked around the island,” she said.
“You can accommodate about 34,” she said.
“I believe to book it out it’s a two year waiting list. It’s self contained, they have it set up where you order all your food and it’s self-catering, it has all your food and condiments.”
Ms Malone said it was ideal for a private getaway, something which can’t be done at a typical resort.
POOLE ISLAND
Price: Offers over $995,000
Location: Whitsunday Islands
Tenure: Leasehold
Poole Island is available for the same price as a Brisbane home, yet it faces the Coral Sea and is completely private.
The island itself has two homes and sheds as well as a hand made rock swimming pool.
The second house has an exterior of hand made brickwork that was built in the late 1800s.
Some maintenance is necessary on the old building but the main home is ready to move in.
Part of the island’s main features includes a 700ft runway that fits a small aircraft or a helicopter which could arrive from Bowen or Airlie Beach.
Perfect for fishing, the island has its own slipway and shed. But it also has a swimming pool which is up high on the island level.
Poole Island hit the market in 2018 for the first time in 40 years.
SWEERS ISLAND RESORT
Price: 3.95 million
Location: 30km off the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria
Tenure: Leasehold
Buying into this magnificent location would mean being a part of the popular Sweers Island Resort which is heavily booked each year.
“This opportunity to own part of Sweers island (lease) with a world renowned resort business, is now available for the first time ever from the lease owners,” Australian Islands agent Richard Vanhoff said.
“There is a great opportunity to bring Sweers Island tourist resort with fishing and adventure tours into a new phase with fresh new business ideas and a brilliant future.”
The island is around 1,100ha and owned by the traditional owners of the Kaiadilt people but the 30 hectares of the resort is available for a perpetual tourist purpose lease.
“Sweers Island has miles of golden beaches and blue waters with plentiful marine and bird life on and around the island,” he said.
“This island is called and referred to as the ultimate fisherman’s paradise.”
The resort is fit with three cabins with three beds, two cabins with three beds, two cabins with six beds and one cabin with four beds.
The current owners Lyn and Tex Battle have had the lease for 34 years.
WEDGE ISLAND
Price: Looking for expressions of interest
Location: A kilometre south of Great Keppel Island, opposite from Emu Park
Tenure: Long leasehold
This island has plenty of potential with 9ha of space.
This property currently has no big house but one can be built once it is approved.
“There have been many recent improvements to the island with new accommodation Colorbond sheds and a full concrete driveway from the waters edge to the home which is perched 50 meters above the water line,” Australian Islands agent Richard Vanhoff said.
“The owner has created the magic on the island ready for new owners, who can take the island to the next level by building their island getaway large home.
The island includes hot water shower, toilet, shed space with eight beds in the bungalow.
There is lots of opportunity to look at small private sandy beaches and engage in water sports.
QUOIN ISLAND
Price: 1.9 million
Location: Near Gladstone
This island with beach front views has two old stone homes which are ready for renovations.
While the island is 12ha in total, 4.86ha of it is freehold.
Australian Islands agent Richard Vanhoff said: “The island has other residences within a community title on the remaining portion of this exquisite and unique piece of Australia as well as a commercial portion on the very southern end called Quoin Island Retreat which caters for food, weddings and functions as well as a Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.
“But this is situated at the very opposite side of the island and you will never hear any activity or noise, as this northern potion of the island is remote and extremely peaceful.
FITZROY ISLAND RESORT
Price: $35 million
Location: Near Cairns
For the third time in seven years, this resort has come on the market. The resort covers 4.4ha of beachfront land.
“Fitzroy Island is one of the most unspoilt islands on the Great Barrier Reef providing any traveller with pristine Australian natural beauty at their doorstep,” Colliers Head of Hotels Australia Karen Wales told The Courier-Mail last week.
“The resort operates a range of sustainability programs and initiatives to engage purposefully in the circular economy.”
The island is only a 30km ferry ride and the resort includes a restaurant with 106 suites.
TEMPLE ISLAND
Price: $1.75 million
Location: Coastal Waters of the Great Barrier Reef, Central Queensland
Tenure: Leasehold
Temple Island is ready to move into with a four bedroom high set home ready to go.
The island has it’s own airstrip which can be flown from Rockhampton or Mackay Airports.
“This island is extremely well priced for an exotic island of this size,” Australian Islands agent Richard Vanhoff said.
“If nature is what you seek then this totally private 50ha island with an 8.7ha lease, just perfect with a rainforest and an abundance of orchids and exotic plants, the rest of the island is National Park with no visitations apart from the various birds that use the island as a retreat.”
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Originally published as Inside Qld’s private islands for sale
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