Boaties launch luxury eco village in North Whitsundays

by Sheree De Bono on 16 Aug 2010 A $50 million absolute beachfront eco village on a secluded stretch of sand in the North Whitsundays will be officially launched to the market this weekend – the first major project of its kind to be released in the region.

Cape Gloucester Village will feature 33 luxury holiday homes, designed by renowned award-winning Queensland based architect Donovan Hill, with 11 absolute beachfront abodes to be released in stage one, priced from $1.7 million.

The pristine 13 hectare site abuts the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with direct frontage to Edgecombe Bay, Gloucester Passage and Gloucester Island National Park, and is located midway between Townsville and Mackay, about 40 minutes north-east of Proserpine.

The project is being developed by Cape Gloucester Eco Village, a consortium of boating and yachting enthusiasts, headed by Mark Hallett. Construction is expected to start in 2011.

Mr Hallett said Cape Gloucester Village would be a rarity.

'This is not just a first for the North Whitsundays, there is nothing else like this project anywhere along Australia's eastern seaboard,' he said.

'Cape Gloucester has long been popular with the boating community, but as it has in the past been landlocked it hasn't been accessible to the general population.

'This new development will provide a rare opportunity for buyers from all walks of life to secure a truly pristine and secluded beach house in an unmatched location.'

Mr Hallett is a prominent planning lawyer, who has worked for major ASX-listed developers, and an experienced yachtsman, who sailed the world with his family for a number of years before coming across the picturesque site.

It was originally acquired in 1992 by American sailors Michael and Jesse Begun, who remain development partners.

Mr Begun developed an eco resort on the site in 2000, comprising six cabins and four resort rooms, which will be moved and retained as staff quarters, and a beachfront bar and restaurant, which will undergo an extensive refurbishment.

The site also boasts 20 Barrier Reef marine park approved moorings and a boatshed providing marine equipment hire will be developed.

Cape Gloucester Village will set a new benchmark for ecological design and development as the first village of its scale to be built and run off-grid. It will be powered by solar energy, supported by LPG operated gas turbine generators.

Donovan Hill director Brian Donovan said the interior spaces would be modular, built off-site and integrated with a purpose built, covered outdoor room and located around existing vegetation to ensure minimal effect on the environment during development.

'While luxury is a major focus of the village, so is the environment,' he said.

'Sustainable design and development is a core focus of everything from power generation, water management and storage to on-site transport and client services.

'All houses, pathways, rest areas and other infrastructure will be located to best fit with the existing vegetation.

'Residents and guests will park their car at the entrance to the village under solar-panel covered parking and move around the site by foot, push bikes and electric golf buggies.'

Mr Donovan said the sea and landscape would be the dominate feature throughout, with the restaurant, bar, pool, boating facilities and houses all positioned to best capture the location.

'The outdoor room will be the most identifiable part, tailored to the climate and location to provide a comfortable, private and characteristic place to enjoy all this part of the world has to offer,' he said.

Mr Hallett said 22 of the houses would boast a beach aspect, including the 11 absolute beachfront houses to be released in stage one, with the remaining 11 houses featuring a bush aspect.

'The first stage offering includes our premier absolute beachfront houses, the finest in the project, with panoramic views across the ocean to Gloucester Island National Park,' he said.

'These single level beach houses feature either three or four bedrooms and are sized from 150sqm.'

For further information on Cape Gloucester Village, please contact David Aubrey on 0413 775 776.