China Capital Investment Group (CCIG) has listed South Molle Island for sale amid heightened investor interest in Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands.

Renowned for its pristine white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and secluded bays, South Molle Island is the largest island in the Molle Group archipelago and is one of the closest major islands to the mainland, offering strong transport connectivity benefits.

The opportunity encompasses significant combined development parcels totalling approximately 28 hectares of beachfront and island centre land across perpetual and long-term leasehold lots.

CBRE Hotels’ Raymond Tran, Wayne Bunz and Tom Gibson have been exclusively appointed to manage the International Expression of Interest campaign for the leasehold interest in the island, which was once home to the 188-room Adventure Island Whitsunday resort.

The listing of South Molle comes after a recent flurry of Whitsunday Island transactions, with Lindeman, Dunk, Lizard, Long and Hook Islands all changing hands over the past two years through CBRE Hotels.

CBRE Hotels’ Director Raymond Tran said, “The opportunity to acquire South Molle Island provides investors with the ability to redevelop the asset in line with other nearby successful luxury resorts, such as Qualia Hamilton Island, or to provide a more experiential offering including boutique villas or glamping sites.

“The current owners have also undertaken a $10m redevelopment of the jetty, to allow for marine vessels to drop off and pick up island visitors, given its popularity as a Whitsunday’s destination for multiple yacht charters.”

The 28 hectares of land at South Molle are accessed via the north-facing sheltered alcove of Bauer Bay, which is highly popular with sailing yachts and catamarans as a transient stop for many Whitsunday charters.

CBRE Hotels’ National Director Wayne Bunz said, “South Molle Island is ideally one of the closest islands to the coastline of Queensland and is positioned in proximity to both Hamilton Island and Proserpine Airports, which are both just a short boat and helicopter ride away.

“The Whitsunday region proved to be one of the most resilient markets through the pandemic and was recognised as the world’s second most loved tourist destination in 2022 by the Tourism Sentiment Index highlighting the region’s robust tourist market and recent strong demand.”

CBRE Hotels’ Director Raymond Tran added, “The reopening of international borders, the pent-up demand for global travel and the domestic tourism renaissance carrying over from the pandemic period makes it an opportune time for CCIG to capitalise on the strength in market.

“The past 12-18 months has shown Australia’s resilience when it comes to tourism, which in turn makes it a highly favoured investment destination of choice. With the weakening dollar and volume of capital heading to Australian shores, CCIG is committed to investing in Australian tourism product. While the sale of South Molle Island will allow the group to recycle its capital into other business opportunities, it will importantly assist with funding capital works at Daydream Island Resort and improving its facilities and guest experience, which remains a core focus for the group.”

Mr Tran noted that strong enquiry and interest was expected in the South Molle campaign due to the diverse scale of potential developments an incoming investor could complete on the island, coupled with its location in the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

The International Expression of Interest campaign closes 28th September 2023 (unless sold prior).

Queensland’s Islands have experienced a resurgence in investor interest in the past two years highlighted by the recent $24 million sale of Dunk Island to Mike and Annie Cannon-Brookes, the sale of Lizard Island to Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest’s private investment group Tattarang, Oscar Hotels’ purchase of Long Island and the sale of Hook Island to Meridian Australia, all brokered by CBRE.