South Molle Island, part of the Whitsunday Islands, is a resort island in the Whitsunday section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Queensland, Australia. The hilly island has numerous bays and inlets accessible by 16 km of walking and cycling tracks, with most protected in the Molle Islands National Park.[1]
Native name: Whyrriba | |
|---|---|
 Looking northwest from west of Mount Jeffreys. Daydream (left) and North Molle (right) are visible in the distance. | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Coral Sea |
| Archipelago | Whitsunday Islands |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Major islands | 1 |
| Area | 4.66 km2 (1.80 sq mi) |
| Length | 3.2 km (1.99 mi) |
| Width | 2.6 km (1.62 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 194 m (636 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Jeffreys |
| Administration | |
Australia | |
| State | Queensland |
| Local government area | Whitsunday Region |
| Capital city | Bauer Bay |
| Largest settlement | Bauer Bay (pop. 0) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 (2018) |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone |
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The islands were named by Lieutenant Charles Jefferys in 1815 after Colonel George James Molle, the then Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales.[2] Nearby islands include Mid Molle, North Molle and West Molle (known as Daydream Island). Just to the east and southeast, respectively, are the small islands Planton and Denman. Wild goats were introduced to the island in the nineteenth century as a food source for shipwrecked sailors.[citation needed]
Tourism
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First established in 1937, the island's resort lies on Bauer Bay on the northern end of the island[3] and so is well protected from the prevailing south easterly winds. The resort area, now known as South Molle Island Resort,[4] is owned by Koala Adventures and has a nine-hole golf course in addition to 200 rooms that can accommodate 600 guests.[2] In 1961 a large jetty was built as the small jetty that existed was only usable at high tide.
Popular hiking and cycling trips include the walk to Mount Jeffreys in the southern half of the island, from which one can continue southwest to Sandy Bay.
The South Molle Island resort was operated by Ansett Transport Industries in the late 1980s.[5] At the time, Ansett was half owner of Hamilton Island Airport which provided a strong team of tourists to South Molle. Bauer Bay holds a seaplane base.
In 2016, the island was bought by a Chinese company, but was destroyed by Cyclone Debbie only a few months later.[6] As of 2019, the resort remains closed and in disrepair.[7]
History
editThere is some evidence that Aboriginals visited the island to extract hard stone for their weapons.[2] The islands's first pastoral lease was granted in 1883.[2] It was owned by the Bauer family since around 1920 and primarily used for sheep and cattle grazing until a resort was built in the 1950s. In 1970, Cyclone Ada destroyed the island's resort.[2] Coca-Cola filmed a TV commercial on the island.[8]
Settlement
editHousing for the resort staff and the personnel from the seaplane base is located at the jetty on Bauer Bay.
See also
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References
edit- ^ "About Molle Islands". Department of Environment and Science. 27 August 2013. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "South Molle Island". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 1 January 2009. Archived from the original on 20 July 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "Bauer Bay, South Molle Island Site Management Arrangements". Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "Koala Adventures". Archived from the original on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ^ The Whitsundays jewel in the crown put to marketJLL 2 May 2016 Archived 14 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Josh Bavas. 23 April 2018. Cyclone-damaged South Molle Island resort still in ruins with no signs of reopening ABC News. Retrieved on 11 October 2023.
- ^ Molloy, Shannon. "Paradise lost: Half of Queensland's once desirable luxury island resorts now deserted or derelict". News Pty Limited. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
- ^ "Coca Cola ad 'Uplift' on YouTube". Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
External links
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