Bedarra Island - Ownership Changes

Ownership Changes

In 1938 after artist Noel Wood was established in his island paradise, Frank Coleman and his family from the Atherton Tableland, arrived after negotiating a purchase price for the rest of the island.

In 1940, artist John Busst leased the south-eastern corner for ten shillings a week before the Coleman’s sold to former island guests Dick Greatrix and Pierre Huret who had fallen in love with the place.

The two men lived on the island for seven years creating an area of landscaped gardens and introducing exotic plants to the rainforest before selling to longtime tenant Busst and his sister Phyllis.

Portions of the island were sub-divided and sold off over the years until in 1857 Ken and Cynthia Druitt took over and developed a small tourist resort. That year John Busst sold his remaining holding at Bedarra Bay, to Colin Scott, a grazier from Victoria, who ran the property as a private retreat. In 1979, Tor Hulten, from Sweden converted the property into the Toranna Plantation tourist resort.

In 1980, Australian Airlines, owners of neighbouring Dunk Island Resort, purchased Ken and Cynthia Druitt’s holding, ultimately creating Bedarra Hideaway Resort and running day trips for Dunk Island guests.

The airline also acquired Toranna Plantation which in 1988 was transformed into the exclusive Bedarra Bay Resort. Bedarra Hideaway Resort was closed in October 1991 after Qantas took over Australian Airlines.

P&O Australian Resorts purchased the properties in March 1998 and after extensive refurbishment over several years sold to Voyages Hotels & Resorts in August 2004. An affiliate of the McCall MacBain Foundation took over portions of Bedarra and neighbouring Dunk Island in September 2009.

In 2011, post cyclone Yasi, Bedarra Island Resort was purchased by the Charlton Hotel group with the intention of rebuilding.