Whitsundays Island Resort Development Moves Closer with Multiple Buyer Interests

A proposed resort and overwater gondola at a Whitsundays island is a step closer to becoming reality, after attracting expressions of interest from several possible buyers.

Stone Island, just under 2 kilometres from the North Queensland town of Bowen, was placed back on the market last month with fresh details of its proposed development.

Richard Vanhoff is managing the sale of the 92-hectare lot and said he had received opening offers from five interested buyers in the past two weeks.

"They're happy to pay $23 million," he said.

A master plan for a new resort on the land includes 18 oceanfront homes, nearly a dozen bungalows and an upgraded guests' lodge in "Dutch-Indies-style" architecture.

Its landmark feature is a yet-to-be-approved cable car service connecting tourists from a lookout on Flagstaff Hill in Bowen to the island.

"If they adopt that, they get a fairly decent-sized resort comparable to Hamilton [Island], I suspect — without the airport," Mr Vanhoff said.

Despite the plans, Mr Vanhoff said interested parties might have their "own ideas" about how the resort should look.

Residents wary of sale

Stone Island has been on the market since October last year and has struggled to find new investors to take over from owners who include former rugby league star Jarrod McCracken.

Bowen resident Zara Butler said access to the area had been limited since she moved to the town 20 years ago.

"I think there should be access for locals to be able to just go over and have a wander around on the island," she said.

Stone Island's original wharf was built in the 1940s, connecting visitors to its first resort.

A new wharf and floating pontoon were built at the island after it was damaged by Cyclone Debbie in 2017.

Ms Butler said investment in the region was welcome but she had concerns a bigger development with cable cars might affect the charm of the town.

"We love to have the tourists come and visit us," she said.

"But then, we moved to Bowen for the laid-back lifestyle, being a small town."

Council supports regional growth

Bowen boasts a population of about 10,000 people and has been earmarked for council-led developments including a new jetty and a precinct for multi-storey accommodation.

Whitsunday councillor John Finlay said a resort development would "complement the growth of Bowen", but he had doubts whether a cable car could be more efficient than a ferry service.

"You'd have to really weigh up the business case for a gondola type of set-up, to see whether or not that's viable," Cr Finlay said.

The Whitsunday Regional Council approved the construction of 18 villas and a restaurant on the island in 2023, as part of the master plan.

Mr Vanhoff said there was "no date" to the end-of-sale period, so he could gather as many expressions of interest as possible before inspections.