A private island paradise money could buy

By Nicola McDougall

No man or woman is an island, but you can bet your bottom dollar we would all like to own one, right?

But here’s the thing – freehold islands, where you own the land, are very rare, and instead most islands are leasehold, which means the government owns the land and you own the lease over it.

However, even though there are a few very rare private island opportunities around the nation, they are also seldom sold by public auction, too.

That’s where 1 Little Green Island comes in.

Marketed by Tina and The Harcourts MackTown Team in Mackay, this once-in-a-lifetime slice of paradise was recently successfully auctioned by Apollo Auctions’ very own Rob Doorey.

The Shoal Point in Queensland island holding encompassed full ownership rights across 63 breathtaking acres, as well as being only a few minutes boat ride from Mackay’s Northern Beaches and 30 minutes from Mackay Airport.

Little Green Island also offered spectacular sunrises and sunsets and comprised a gorgeous main dwelling and a fully self-sufficient caretaker’s lodge.

Plus, if that wasn’t enough, the award-winning main dwelling was designed by acclaimed architect Tone Wheeler, who created the masterpiece for none other than creative guru Dr Edward De Bono for hosting corporate his regular think tanks. 

“There is no doubt excitement built as the day approached and as an auctioneer for our company, I will literally go anywhere to conduct auctions,” Rob says.

“It doesn’t matter what the product is – whether it’s a unit in Burleigh Heads, a $24 million record-breaking mansion on the Isle of Capri, or your very own island off the coast of Mackay – the auction process is always the same, perhaps just with slightly different sale prices.”

Rob says logistics meant the auction had to take place on the mainland, but the possibility of buying an island resulted in 10 registered bidders as well as a healthy number of onlookers.

“My opening line was this is your private piece of paradise – an almost money can’t buy opportunity, but as luck may have it, today you can,” he recalls.

“The tranquillity of the property was definitely one of its biggest selling attributes.

“That’s because on the side of the property where the house is with the white sandy beach, it just looks out at the ocean. It is probably one of the most private places that you would find on earth.”

Most of us mere mortals dream about escaping the hustle and bustle on an island somewhere, but we generally have to make do with a yearly trip to Bali or the Maldives.

But for those with the financial means and desire to escape the rat-race permanently, while also being the owner of the island, well, there was much that Rob could do to encourage their lifestyle dreams. 

“It was quite easy to tap into the emotional aspects of becoming the new owner,” he says. 

“What is it that is going to entice a buyer? How are they going to become emotionally attached?

“Partly it was the fact that it was that you’re buying something that has total privacy – it was very Richard Branson in a way.

“Plus, the beauty of this island is it wasn’t very far off the coast, so it’s only a matter of minutes to get you there, which is unusual in itself. You’re not crossing rough seas to get there and once you’re there you truly are the master or mistress of your own domain.

“We can’t remember the last time that an island was auctioned. It was truly a money can’t buy experience, but in this case, money could buy it, and it sold under the hammer for $5.6 million on the day.”