Paradise Found - The History of Paradise Bay

By Peter Spann

The Whitsunday Islands were originally formed by volcanic action. However, after the last glacial period (30 to 50 000 years ago) the sea level rose, leaving the higher coastal peaks as islands.

Paradise Bay is located at the secluded southern tip of Long Island, which is one of the largest and most densely forested islands of the Whitsunday group.  Long Island is approximately 9km in length and up to 2km wide, consisting of 1,215 hectares of uninhabited National Park.

Like most of the Whitsunday Islands, the foreshore of Long Island is predominately rocky, but interspersed with small sandy beaches in bays at regular intervals.  Paradise Bay contains a firm sand beach about 80 metres wide, which is safe and good for swimming in all tides.  There is a fringing coral reef across the bay just beyond the beach.

There are two other resorts at the north end of the island.  These are more than 7km from Paradise Bay and cannot be reached on foot, as the island’s topography is rugged, mountainous and covered with dense sub-tropical rainforest.

Although only a 10 minute helicopter flight from Hamilton Island airport, the southern end of Long Island is completely removed and secluded from regular boating traffic and tourist activity of the large resorts of the region.  It is a forgotten piece of paradise.   The view from Paradise Bay encompasses the rainforest covered hills of the Conway National Park while the surrounding hills form a natural protective amphitheatre around the bay.  There is no doubt that the site has that special “magic” ingredient.  More than one guest has described it as “sacred”. 

A Checkered Past

The Indigenous Aboriginal people, the Birri-Gubba Nation, have lived in the area for tens of thousands of years and wish you Wadda-moolie (welcome).    The Ngaro people are the traditional occupiers of the Whitsunday Islands having lived in the area for more than 6,000 years.

Often called the 'Island People' their territory expanded north - south along the island chain. They also inhabited the coast of the adjacent mainland. In their occupation as maritime hunters and gatherers, the Ngaro became well known as skilled navigators.

In 1770, the Cumberland Islands were discovered by Lieutenant James Cook. On Whit Sunday Lt. Cook sailed through and named the passage between the northern islands, the Whitsunday Passage. Later, once surveyed, the Cumberland Islands were divided into smaller groups - the Whitsunday Group, the Lindeman Group, the Anchor Islands and the Sir James Smith Group.

During the mid 1800s the Whitsunday Group were the first to attract the attention of the pioneers of the mainland coast. In the 1880s, grazing leases were granted for the islands. It was not until the 1920s that 'dreamers' built galvanised iron huts for guests. Cruise ship passengers rowed ashore for tropical fruits, tea and scones. The first day trippers from the mainland were the Proserpine residents. They arrived on the islands aboard the weekly mail boat.

In 1962, the islands became more accessible when the road from Airlie Beach to Shute Harbour and the jetty were completed.
Although originally used as a logging site, with good stands of Hoop Pine, Mackay Cedar and Milwood trees, Paradise Bay did not become a separate entity until the early 1930’s.  Prior to this time, the leasehold of the whole island was owned by a Mrs Altmann, who died in 1930, allowing the island to be sub-divided into 3 sections.

The leasehold of the southern section was purchased by Thomas Hurford, who owned the 1,460 hectare section for about 13 years, growing tropical fruits for sale on the mainland.  In 1941 the Queensland Department of Lands redefined the boundaries of the lease, reducing it to 15 acres in an effort to expand National Parks in the Whitsunday area.

In 1951, Hurford sold his lease to Maxwell Austin, who attempted to establish a home while expanding his interests in a shark oil venture in the area.  In August 1952, Austin exchanged his lease for a part share in the Palm Bay resort at the north end of the island and soon moved to this new location.

Peter and Dulcie Brooks moved from Palm Bay to Paradise Bay in 1952.  They grew pineapples and papaws, while Dulcie made shell novelties and jewelry for the increasing tourist trade.  In November 1955, while Dulcie was in Brisbane giving birth Peter set about installing a gas stove.   A leak developed during installation and it is thought a kerosene fridge was responsible for igniting the fire that subsequently burnt down their dwelling.  To further the loss, cyclone Agnes followed in March 1956 destroying the Brooks plantation.  They decided to return to Palm Bay and sold Paradise Bay to Ronald Vigar and his wife in May 1957.

Several different people owned the property over the following 20 years, most making some improvements and attempting to operate a small resort. 

On the night of 17th January 1970, cyclone Ada hit and destroyed all the buildings on the site.

Cabins and the existing staff house were built sometime in the early seventies by another series of owners attempting to run a resort.  Unfortunately none were successful due to the difficult access and isolated position in comparison to all the other resort sites closer to Shute Harbour.  Ironically these “issues” are exactly the attributes that make Paradise Bay such a remarkably untouched and unspoilt area of the Whitsundays today – exactly what our guests are looking for.

A company called Eastpac Property Pty Ltd bought it in September 1989 with plans to develop a large resort.  Luckily they did not eventuate and new owners bought it to operate a children’s camp during school holidays. 

Paradise Bay Children’s Camp – circa 1993

Finally, success!

The previous owner purchased the property in March 1993.  It had only 3 years to run on its 25 year lease and in a strange quirk the Government would not negotiate the lease with a potential owner.  As the seller did not have the funds to extend the lease David found himself a bargain and took the risk of getting a new lease which was granted in due course.

David was ahead of his time and had been looking for a place to build what is now known as an eco-resort.  A small intimate property that could take guests close to nature in comfort.  He describes his first visit to the island, “It was very clear to me that Paradise Bay was possibly the last site left on the east coast of Australia which had the potential to be this “ideal resort” I had in mind.”

Apparently when he took over the site contained five timber and fibro buildings, grouped in a cluster at the northern end of the site where the gazebo now stands which were in fair condition, all containing triple bunk beds.  The area on the south side of the creek (where the beach bungalows are now) was like a garbage tip – more than 60 years of debris from human habitation scattered around the clearing, including a couple of old tractors, truck bodies, a caravan and the remains of several buildings.  

Struggling to get finance to build his ideal he started with what he had and spent a year preparing for the first guests.  By mid 1998 business had picked up enough to convince the bank that the concept could be successful and he began construction of the 10 cabins that now make up the guest accommodation. 

He also installed the first solar power system and the original bio-cycle waste-water treatment system.

He says, “The operating procedures, locations we visited in the yacht, the activities provided, the rooms and facilities, the meals, the gardens – all were gradually and continuously improved after careful observation and listening to guests comments and feedback.”  The new cabins were used by guests for the first time in September 1999.  The old cabins around the gazebo were later demolished although one was converted into the laundry and another into staff quarters.

The resort started to prosper in the age of the internet where it could compete globally on a small marketing budget.  International guests now make up 75% of visitors to the resort, mostly from the UK, USA, Europe and Asia.

An important part of the concept in regards to environmental impact, guest experience and financial efficiency is to keep the resort small and personalised.  David described it to me this way, “I believe Paradise Bay is a genuine environmentally sustainable business that provides many people with the holiday experience that they have always dreamed of and can fully help them to rejuvenate their body, mind and soul by providing what they need to get in touch with themselves and nature.”

A new beginning

I spent most of my fantastic childhood barefoot on the beaches of the Whitsundays.  Every weekend my family and I traveled to the islands and my early childhood albums are full of photos of the fun we had.

My first experiences in boats were with my father as we pottered around the islands in a tinny, (Aussie slang for a small tin boat) fishing, swimming and generally having fun. 

Peter having fun in the Whitsundays as a child - circa 1973

The resorts back then (even the big ones) were family run affairs where everybody knew your name, the staff small and smiling, and the service friendly, welcoming and warm – just like staying at a friend’s island paradise.

So after travelling the world many times and experiencing everything that the world of luxury travel had to offer I started to hanker after that familiarity, that friendliness, that sense of belonging – of true relaxation (without all the “fuss” of the big hotels which is fun at the beginning and then just seems to get in the way after you get it out of your system).

I started to think that it might still be possible to experience everything you would want in an island holiday – soaking up sun beams, the feel of sand between the toes, sinking into warm water, dozing off for an afternoon nap, and the pure happiness of dipping your hands in waves as your catamaran silently glided past a tropical paradise complete with Dolphins, Whales, bright and darty fish, and secret hide-a-ways with nobody apart from kindred spirits to share the fun (plus not to leave behind too many of the luxuries I had become used to).

Imagine my surprise when in the middle of Africa I discovered something close to what I had dreamed –eco-safaris with just the right blend of luxury, low environmental impact, back to nature, activity and friendly service.  Could this be replicated in the sun and sand of an island?  “Of course” I thought, determined to make this my challenge. 

For many years I searched for a place where I could make this dream come true and finally discovered Paradise Bay.  Even though I had spent my entire childhood in the Whitsundays, had many holidays and conferences there as an adult and had even spent weeks on my own boat exploring the area I had never heard of the resort before.  It was truly a piece of paradise tucked away in a very private and secluded part of the area making it perfect for my own desire for an eco friendly piece of wonder for myself and my guests.

The previous owner had dedicated 12 years and a good part of his heart and soul to the project and had got many of the elements of the project spot on.  The glowing reports from previous guests were testimony to his vision.  But he had admitted that much of the infrastructure on the island needed upgrading and capital was difficult to come by.  After many a conversation about shared direction, vision and potential he was confident that his “baby” would be in safe hands and with a little bit of trepidation and a lot of passion we took over.

In August 2007 we embarked on an ambitious upgrade of the facilities including all soft furnishings, decorative items, artwork, addition of a new kitchen up to Queensland’s tough new food safety legislation, and an expensive but necessary upgrade to power, water treatment and equipment.

It’s certainly been worth the wait and I truly enjoy welcoming our guests to Paradise.

The “new” Paradise Bay – September 2007

Further work to come includes the addition of a small tented combined chapel, conference and cultural experience centre for guest weddings and receptions, executive retreats and guest interaction with the indigenous population and National Parks and Wildlife Service personnel, a new owner’s villa available to guests, a new centre piece gazebo and a new upgraded yacht.  These features will be added progressively throughout 2008 and 2009 with no interruption to the guest experience.  Our aim with all upgrades is to keep intact the pristine wilderness of the island and enhance the experiences that guests love.

Feedback has been extraordinarily positive with guests pleasantly delighted that the resort has been substantially upgraded between the time they booked and when they arrived.  We know that in the modern world even and eco-escape such as ours cannot stand still and must continue to strive for excellence in all things.

More importantly the essence of the resort has not changed – friendly, personal service from people who genuinely care with a desire to make your visit to Paradise a holiday of a life time.

My goal is to providing you, our guest with a place to relax, genuinely get away from it all, and experience a holiday you dream of in a world class eco-escape blending a little bit of luxury with a lot of friendly service to create for you a truly delightful place to repose.  I hope you will enjoy the result and visit us in Paradise soon.

On behalf of myself and my fabulous team…

Welcome to Paradise!