Budget airlines and cheap holidays in exotic overseas resorts have been blamed for the dozens of Australian island tourist hubs which have been left in ruins.
South Molle Island and Lindemann Island are among the 15 of 30 resorts on and off Queensland’s coast which have remained derelict for years.
Some of the islands, once picturesque and known as the locations for a dream Australian getaway, were neglected after powerful cyclones destroyed the property.
South Molle Island (pictured) was at its height in 60s and 70s as a raved about holiday destination but remains covered with collapsed structures, broken glass and scattered wood panels
A Chinese company bought the island shortly after Cyclone Debbie wiped out the island in 2017 but the new owners have since left the damage untouched
South Molle Island was at its height in 60s and 70s as a raved about holiday destination, but is now covered with collapsed structures, broken glass and scattered wood panels.
Now, Whitsunsdays resident and skipper Dan Van Blarcom describes the dilapidated space as a ‘crack house’.
A Chinese company bought the island shortly after Cyclone Debbie wiped it out in 2017, but the new owners have since left the damage untouched.
‘There are people who would have wonderful memories of South Molle resort and the other Whitsunday islands,’ Mr Van Blarcom told 60 Minutes.
‘They’re watching this and they’re seeing this here and they’re going ”oh, we went on our honeymoon there, we took our kids there” and to see this is terrible.’
Club Med’s resort on Lindeman Island has been left in its ruins for nearly a decade after Cyclone Yasi tore through the vacation area in 2011.
Tourists once flocked to the island hub to watch shows at the bar, which remains abandoned and unrestored.
Both destinations have been left to decay with piles of debris such as broken furniture and dark, murky swimming pools.
Club Med’s resort on Lindeman Island (pictured) has been left in its ruins for nearly a decade after Cyclone Yasi tore through the vacation area in 2011
Tourists once flocked to the island hub to watch shows at the bar, which remains abandoned and unrestored
Dunk Island, once known as a lavish tourist hub, was also badly affected by Cyclone Larry in 2006 and Cyclone Yasi in 2011.
The Cairns island was once one of the main drivers which boosted the Mission Bay economy but remains closed as owner Adam Bond is desperate to sell the land.
Great Keppel Island, located off the central Queensland coast, was once a popular tourist destination but has been left partially demolished for over 10 years now.
A $600 million redevelopment plan was set out for the resort island but was also abandoned when it failed to find an investment partner.
However, a Singapore-Taiwanese company was rumoured to have bought the site for $50 million.
Current development plans for Great Keppel Island include a beachfront hotel, luxury apartments, luxury villas and retail shops.
Dunk Island (pictured), once known as a lavish tourist hub, was also badly affected by Cyclone Larry in 2006 and Cyclone Yasi in 2011
The Cairns island (pictured) was once one of the main drivers which boosted the Mission Bay economy but remains closed as owner Adam Bond is desperate to sell the land
Despite the threat of climate change and the massive damage from cyclones, the popularity of international vacations at places like Bali and Fiji, have also been blamed for Australia’s struggling tourism industry on island resorts.
Hamilton Island remains as one of the very few resorts which have been repaired, following damage from cyclones.
Current manager of Hamilton Glen Bourke says Australia ‘needs to be competitive’ against the cheap, exotic holidays in the Asia pacific.
Great Keppel Island, located off the central Queensland coast, was once a popular tourist destination but has been left partially demolished for over 10 years now (pictured)
Cyclone Dylan also wreaked havoc on Great Keppel Island, which destroyed houses and washed away debris (pictured)
Current development plans for Great Keppel Island are in the works in order to bring back its former glory, which includes a beachfront hotel, luxury apartments and luxury villas