Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island of the Whitsunday Islands in
Queensland, Australia. It is positioned approximately 887 kilometres north of
Brisbane and 512 kilometres south of Cairns. It is also the only island in
the Great Barrier Reef with its own commercial airport, with short direct
flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns. Hamilton Island, like most
in the Whitsunday group, was formed as sea levels rose creating numerous
drowned mountains that are situated close to the east coast of Queensland.
At the 2011 Australian Census the island recorded a population of 1,208 people.
The island is a popular tourist destination and was featured in the
successful "Best Job In The World" promotion. In late August the island
plays host to its annual Hamilton Island Race Week yachting festival, in which
more than 150 yachts from across Australia and New Zealand gather for a
week of races around the islands. However this is only one of many events
hosted on the island. History
Hamilton Island was purchased in 1975 by Keith Williams and Bryan Bryt, and in
1978 Keith Williams commenced construction of Hamilton Island Harbour
and the resort complex shortly after. The resort opened in phases between 1982
and 1984. In 1985, a fire destroyed most of the central portion of the resort
complex, which was completely rebuilt by 1986. The current Whitsunday Holiday
Apartments opened in 1986 followed by the current Reefview Hotel in 1990. In
1992, the resort was placed in receivership and between 1995 and 2003
it was owned by BT Australia and managed by Holiday Inn for a portion of that
time. In 1999, the five-star Beach Club opened.
Bob Oatley an Australian winemaker and his family purchased Hamilton Island in
2003. Bob Oatley first noted the potential of the island when he cruised
past the island aboard a yacht when Keith Williams was in the early stages
of the development of the resort. Following an investment and development
program the Oatley family now offer holiday destinations there.
Tourism Unlike most islands off the east coast
of Australia, Hamilton Island is used almost exclusively for tourism. However
the island is catering for a growing number of residents, both employees of
the various businesses on the island and also those people choosing to retire and
enjoy the lifestyle. The island is on long term lease from the Commonwealth
Government by the Oatley family. The Oatleys own and run Hamilton Island
Enterprises which operates the majority of accommodation and businesses on the
island. In December 2009, the Hamilton Island Yacht Club opened.
Hamilton Island Airport is the only airport in the Whitsunday Islands that
is big enough to cater for larger commercial aircraft. Hamilton Island is
also catered for by several ferry services, which can only carry
passengers. Mainland motor vehicles are prohibited on the island with the
exception of those for tradespeople and island public transport. Private
transport needs are mostly served by a fleet of golf buggies, available to
tourists for rent and are included as part of some accommodation packages. A
public shuttle bus operates on the island serving major points of interests
and accommodation sites. Day trips to the Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park from Hamilton Island, are provided by Cruise Whitsundays and
Explore. Visitors can catch glimpses of migrating whales as they make their way
through the warm waters of the Whitsundays from July through September
each year. Water supply
Drinking water is provided by a combination of rainwater harvesting and
seawater desalination. A reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant was
commissioned in 1996 and can supply up to 1.3 million litres of potable water
per day. The plant's seawater intake is driven by two vertical turbine pumps
installed on a purpose made jetty. Waste brine is discharged to a pit where it
gravitates to an ocean outfall away from the seawater intake.
New developments In 2009 there were two key
infrastructure and tourism developments completed for the resort. The Hamilton
Island Yacht Club was officially completed and opened by former
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh during Hamilton Island Race Week.and the
Hamilton Island Golf Club is new Championship resort course which opened
in August 2009. The 18-hole course on neighbouring Dent Island measures 6,120
metres and is billed as the only championship island golf course in
Australia. 35th America's Cup Challenge
October 1, 2013 - The Hamilton Island Yacht Club was confirmed as the
"Challenger of Record" for the 35th America's Cup.Only moments after the win
by USA team Oracle, Hamilton Island Yacht Club issued its challenge for the
35th America’s Cup. The HIYC challenge has been accepted by
the Golden Gate Yacht Club, which remains the Defender and Trustee of the
world’s oldest international sporting trophy. Australian billionaire Bob
Oatley was said to be financially backing the Hamilton Island Yacht Club
as the Challenger of Record for the 35th America's Cup.
Annual sporting events Hamilton Island Triathlon
Hamilton Island Race Week Clash of the Paddles
Hilly Half Marathon Popular culture
At least two major films have been on location at Hamilton Island, Muriel's
Wedding and Fool's Gold. Hamilton island was the holiday location in the 1999
movie Sabrina, Down Under, sequel movie of Sabrina Goes to Rome, both movies
extending from the popular TV series Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
Hamilton Island was the first stop for Oprah Winfrey on her Ultimate Australian
Adventure in December 2010. During her stay on Hamilton Island Oprah and 93 of
her fans went on an all expenses paid trip from Hamilton Island to the Great
Barrier Reef and had a Barbecue reception on Whitehaven Beach hosted by
celebrity chef Curtis Stone with entertainment provided by The Ten
Tenors. Weddings
Hamilton Island has more than 10 ceremony locations and 15 unique
reception venues available for weddings and can cater for wedding groups of 2 to
200 guests. The island has its own non-denominational church, the All
Saints Chapel, which overlooks Catseye Bay and is just one of the ceremony
venues available. In 2014, according to the National Bureau of Statistics,
Hamilton Island played host to the second most marriages in the nation, a
close second to the Yokine Recreational Centre in Perth, WA.
Caretaker promotion In 2009, Tourism Queensland promoted the
Great Barrier Reef as a global tourism destination with a website encouraging
people worldwide to apply for "The Best Job In The World:", to be a "Caretaker
of the Islands" to "house-sit" the islands of the Great Barrier Reef for
half a year, based on Hamilton Island. See also
Dent Island List of islands of Australia
Tourism in Australia References
External links Hamilton Island Official Website
University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Hamilton Island