Impressive plans for Hamilton Island

by Susan Boyd on 3 Aug 2004 It is nearly 12 months since the Oatley Family purchased Hamilton Island and already there are some impressive plans on the drawing board to make the island paradise the jewel of Australian tourism.


The 2004 Hahn Premium Race Week will be held at Hamilton Island from August 21 to 28. It is Australia’s largest offshore yachting regatta and it will mark the first anniversary of the Oatley family’s acquisition of Hamilton Island.


On the final day of the 2003 Hahn Premium Race Week, Bob Oatley was celebrating his win of the event and was having a casual conversation with Hamilton Island’s CEO and Managing Director, Wayne Kirkpatrick about the ongoing sale process and long-running tussle for ownership of the island.


These informal discussions developed speedily into a formal bid and, within a short period of time, the island that the family had come to love as a sailing destination became both a treasured asset and a vibrant, long-term business.


‘Our swift response to the GPT/Voyages offer reflects the Oatley family's commitment to Hamilton Island and its management team. We have a firm belief that Hamilton Island is a major Australian tourism asset and, for us, will be a strong, long-term investment,’ said Mr Bob Oatley.


Since then, some $12 million has already been committed to the continuous improvement of Hamilton Island and there are some exciting new plans for the future with a massive $67 million earmarked over the next five years.


Some of the improvements undertaken to date include the upgrading of the resort's main pool, replacement of the roof on the Beach House Restaurant and the Reef View Hotel, upgrading of the Garden View rooms in the Reef View Hotel, (with a plan to improve all Reef View Hotel rooms and suites later in 2004), upgrading of Romano's Restaurant, upgrading of the Beach Club and the acquisition of a new beach grooming machine for Catseye Beach.


Hamilton Island’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr Wayne Kirkpatrick has announced some exciting new plans for Hamilton Island including the release of new land and villa sites and the opening of three new resorts and an array of shops and additional facilities as well as an 18-hole international championship golf course and residential project on nearby Dent Island.


‘Work has already commenced on the construction of a new road, Passage Peak Way, to the bay on the northern shore beneath Passage Peak (the highest point in the Whitsundays), along which approximately 10 villas will be designed and constructed for sale.

At the end of the road, a new luxury, small, private boutique hotel will be created to rival the very best properties in the Asia Pacific region,’ said Mr Kirkpatrick.


To cater for the demand for sailors attracted the yachting mecca, an additional 39 new berths will be added to Hamilton Island’s marina and the harbour’s main channel will be dredged to a minimum depth of 4.4 metres at mean low tide which will give deep draft maxi yachts access to enter and exit the marina with ease.



Details of specific projects:


Passage Peak Way Villas

Expressions of interest are now being taken for 10 villa sites along Passage Peak Way, known as East Bay. Each will enjoy stunning views over Catseye Bay and Fitzallan Pass to the north/north-west and north/north–east with views along Whitsunday Island towards Solway Pass and the entrance to Whitehaven Beach.


‘We propose selling these sites with a choice of homes built on them, to facilitate ease of purchase recognising that buyers are likely to be busy people with little time to devote to a demanding design and construction process.


‘The homes are currently being designed by Chris Beckingham, who has designed a number of stunning homes already constructed on Hamilton Island,’ said Mr Kirkpatrick.


Hideaway Bay

Hideaway Bay is, the working name only of, a luxury boutique hotel which will feature 30 individual suites, each approximately 100 square metres with an indoor, outdoor feel in lush tropical gardens, with a central facility featuring a large free form infinity-edge saltwater pool, restaurant, wine cellar and bar. The hotel is anticipated to open in early 2006.


‘It will be a very private, quiet place to stay with impeccably discrete service by mature, professional service staff who will be very experienced in looking after the wants, needs and expectations of discerning travellers,’ said Mr Kirkpatrick.



Northern Marina site

This site is located on the vacant land just around from the Hamilton Island Yacht Club and will adjoin the new 39 berth marina. The project is expected to be completed in late 2005 or early 2006.


‘We are currently designing the project, which is likely to feature approximately 35 luxury two and three bedroom villas and a host of features and inclusions which will make them highly desirable,’ said Mr Kirkpatrick.


Marina All Suites Hotel, cafe's, restaurants, bars, retail space and 100 marina berths


‘We are presently examining the feasibility of re-locating the island's barge, stores and warehouse operations, together with the island's powerhouse and fuel storage, to a new site on the western shore of the airport. This will free up the land around the perimeter of the marina enabling us to expand and complete the beautification of the marina precinct,’ said Mr Kirkpatrick.


‘We plan to construct an all suites hotel overlooking the marina, no more than three stories in height, terraced back into the rock wall, and beneath it will be cafe's, restaurants, bars and shops, with a boardwalk running right around the marina, enabling visitors to stroll along the harbour foreshore from Pavillions on the southern marina, around to the northern marina site past the Yacht Club.

In addition we will construct another 200 marina berths, with new toilet and shower facilities ashore.’


Fauna Park


Another working name only for this proposed land subdivision. The site is west/north-west facing with views up the Whitsunday Passage and is in a lush a natural bushland setting. A series of individual villa homes and multi unit development sites, clustered amongst the trees is contemplated for future development.


Northpoint


This site is at the extreme northern end of Hamilton Island facing north.

‘We propose developing a luxury villa hotel on the site comprising some 200 suites, bars, cafe's, restaurants and some retail with a large pool overlooking the pristine waters that lie between Hamilton, Henning and Whitsunday Islands,’ said Mr Kirkpatrick.


Dent Island Golf Course and Residential


Dent Island lies approximately 800 metres west of Hamilton Island. For a considerable time now Hamilton Island Enterprises has been working their way through a complex and comprehensive Environmental Impact Study and approval process.

The project is key to Hamilton Island's future success and viability. It will feature an 18-hole international standard golf course and residential accommodation for some 900 persons.


The accommodation feature a 190 room Golf Lodge/Hotel with a restaurant/cafe/bar, golf pro shop and starters hut, 38 large single villa home sites and 172 units in medium density, low rise clusters.


‘All of the accommodation will be placed beneath the skyline, facing east towards Hamilton Island. Some of the properties will adjoin some of the golf holes making up the first nine holes however, most of the holes, certainly all of the second nine holes, will be located in natural bushland settings with stunning views of the ocean,’ said Mr Kirkpatrick.



He said the project approval is well advanced with both the Qld State and Federal governments.


‘Importantly there are no environmental impediments to its approval, after we have exhaustively and comprehensively examined all possible aspects of the projects impacts in a fully transparent manner involv