What Happened to Great Keppel Island Resort?

In the early 2000s, Great Keppel Island Resort, located off the central coast of Australia, was a popular tourist destination. It was known for its stunning beaches and crystal clear waters, as well as its excellent amenities and activities. However, in 2020 the resort shut its doors for good.

The resort had been in operation since 1987 and was owned by Tower Holdings. In 2009, Tower sold the resort to a Malaysian investment group who had grand plans to transform it into a multi-million dollar tourist destination. The group invested tens of millions of dollars into the project and began construction on a new marina and other amenities.

However, things quickly went downhill when the global financial crisis hit in 2008. Tourism numbers plummeted and the investment group found itself unable to secure sufficient financing for the project. The planned renovations were put on hold and eventually abandoned altogether.

Over the next few years, the resort’s condition deteriorated rapidly due to neglect from both Tower Holdings and its Malaysian owners. The buildings began to fall into disrepair and there was no money available to carry out much-needed maintenance or upgrades.

In 2014, Tower Holdings regained ownership of Great Keppel Island Resort but again failed to make much progress with its redevelopment plans due to lack of funds and interest from potential investors. In 2016, it declared bankruptcy after accumulating hundreds of millions of dollars in debt that it could not pay back.

Finally in 2020, after decades of failed attempts at revitalization, Great Keppel Island Resort closed down permanently leaving behind an empty shell of what once had been an iconic tourist destination.

Conclusion: What happened to Great Keppel Island Resort is a sad reminder that even with substantial investments behind them, ambitious redevelopment plans can come undone if they do not have long-term financial stability or support from potential investors.

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Samantha Mckinney