Dunk Island in FNQ sells to Linc Energy boss Peter Bond
The Dunk Island Resort in far north Queensland is the latest cyclone-damaged island to sell.
The resort and island was devastated in January when Cyclone Yasi tore through. In early December it was bought Peter Bond, the chief executive of gas company Linc Energy and listed in Business Review Weekly's 2011 rich list at $570 million of wealth.
While Queensland's Tourism Minister Jan Jarrett said she understood that Bond had bought the resort island for continued tourism intentions, Bond has subsequently advised the reputed $10 million purchase will be used as a private getaway. Bond told the Australian Financial Review there are currently no plans for the commercial division of the resort island.
"I have a large family – six kids – and it's growing rapidly," Bond said. "It'd like to turn the island into a second residence, an anchor where our family can come together."
The coal mining executive's most recent property purchase was when he spent $2,125,000 in June to buy the landmark 125-year-oldformer Redfern post office, now an office building, as an investment. It was sold recently by Max Markson, the publicist who had used the Redfern Street heritage property as the base for publicity business Markson Sparks for five years. The building, which has a clock tower and bell, sold through McGrath agents Paul Ephron and Ben Forsyth. Markson had bought it from Sorin Dascalu & Associates in 2006 for $1.9 million.
Dunk Island Resort occupies 150 hectares, the largest in what is known as the “family group of islands”.
Dunk cost $20.5 million in 2009.
Its sale comes just three weeks after Bedarra sold to the Queensland-based family company with links to former Australian Olympic gold medallist swimmer Andrew "Boy" Charlton.
Bedarra Island is four kilometres to the south of Dunk Island, the second largest in the “family group of islands” and incorporates the Bedarra Island Resort on 44.96 hectares and Bedarra Hideaway on 34.88 hectares. Bedarra was famous for its complimentary bottles of French champagne at the open bar.
The same overseas vendor had acquired the Beddara Island in 2009 for $21.5 million
Prior to the cyclone the resort offered secluded accommodation for just 32 guests in 16 luxury villas, which enjoyed a strong trading history in recent years.
And it’s likely to have fewer villas and a shortened opening season.
