Chinese Owner Lists Whitsundays Private Island for Sale

A once-thriving holiday island in Queensland’s Whitsundays has quietly returned to the market, this time from the hands of a Chinese billionaire, with agents describing it as one of the most unique tourism development opportunities in Australia.

South Molle Island, long dormant following a cyclone and years of neglect, is being offered for sale by its current owners, China Capital Investment Group (CCIG), a Shanghai-based conglomerate helmed by billionaire Chuanyou Zhou, known for his investments in real estate and infrastructure.

The listing includes around 28 hectares of beachfront and developable land within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, surrounded by national parkland and turquoise seas.

A Storied Past

South Molle Island has a rich legacy as one of the original family-friendly island resorts in the Whitsundays.

Developed in the late 1930s, the island was best known under the ownership of the Bauer family, who transformed it into a relaxed, affordable destination that welcomed Australian holidaymakers for decades.

Capable of accommodating up to 600 guests, the island featured over 180 rooms, a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, and several swimming pools, all nestled among tropical gardens. It stood out for its casual charm in a region increasingly defined by high-end resorts.

Its northern position offered natural protection from trade winds and easy access to coral reefs, making it ideal for snorkelling and boating. For years, it was a staple of domestic tourism brochures and Queensland school holidays.

However, as international travel boomed and tastes shifted toward luxury escapes, South Molle began to fall behind.

By the 2000s, visitor numbers had declined, and despite being purchased by CCIG as part of a broader regional investment, its future was thrown into uncertainty after Cyclone Debbie ravaged the island in 2017.

While CCIG invested millions into rebuilding the island’s jetty, plans to redevelop it as a five-star resort never progressed.

Since then, the once-busy island has remained largely untouched, with remnants of its former resort now overgrown and inaccessible to the public.

A $30 Million Opportunity

While a price guide has yet to be disclosed, the island was previously listed at approximately $30 million in 2023.

Selling agents HTL Property are handling the expressions of interest campaign and say they have already received strong inquiries from both domestic and international buyers.

“South Molle Island represents an incredibly rare opportunity,” said HTL’s national director of accommodation, Andrew Jackson.

“Its location, deep-water access, and protected anchorage make it an exceptional blank canvas for an operator or developer with a long-term vision.”

Any future development will require close collaboration with the Queensland government and environmental regulators, given South Molle’s national park status and location within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Despite those requirements, Jackson believes the island is well-positioned to attract serious interest.

“There are very few opportunities left in the Whitsundays where you have freehold and long-term leasehold land ready for activation,” he said. “The bones of a resort are here—it just needs the right operator to bring it back to life.”

The campaign is expected to draw attention from eco-resort developers, boutique hotel groups, and even private buyers seeking a rare slice of tropical isolation with heritage value.

Expressions of interest close in August.