South Molle Island: Open for Investment

With its turquoise water, white sand, and 274 days of sunshine a year, the Whitsundays are the jewel in Australia’s tourism crown.

Now the opportunity to claim a slice of the tropical pie has opened up, with the picturesque South Molle Island officially on the market, following a number of “unsolicited approaches” from investors and developers.

So, if you’ve been holding out for the perfect island, South Molle Island is considered one of the best located islands in the region, with its white, sandy beaches, coral reefs and national park, and to top it off, its close proximity to all of the main attractions.

Heart Reef, Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach are all a short boat ride away.

The agents appointed to market the property at JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group say its likely to be snapped up by a developer keen to replace and expand the existing facilities, with town planning advice suggesting there may be space for more than 1,300 rooms.

“The ability to acquire the perpetual leasehold interest in South Molle Island presents an incredible opportunity to secure one of the last large-scale island development opportunities in the Great Barrier Reef. It’s certainly the premium sale offering in this part of the world at present and we expect global investors and developers to act accordingly”, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group’s Peter Harper says.

It includes more than 12 hectares of prime beachfront land ready to develop, including a frontage of over 600 metres to one of the only sheltered north-facing white sand beaches in the region, a secluded 15 hectare parcel of land in the centre of the island, all of which is surrounded by national park.

The island was named after Colonel George James Molle, the then Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales, in the early 19th century.

Ansett Transport Services and the Telford Group operated the island once upon a time, and this year marks 80 years since its debut as a resort destination.

“South Molle Island benefits from excellent connectivity to both Airlie Beach on the mainland and Hamilton Island, providing ease of access to and from their respective commercial airports via boat or helicopter. With strong growth in visitation by both domestic and international tourists and continued investment in infrastructure throughout the region, an incoming owner will inherit the Island's considerable future potential,” JLL’s Tate Stubbs concludes.