Keppel Cove golf resort sold to Chinese investor

The abandoned Keppel Cove Resort on Queensland’s Capricorn Coast has reportedly been sold to a Chinese businessman.

The 215 hectare beachfront resort at Zilzie Bay was developed by British entrepreneurs Chris and Rita Dadson but has been closed since 2014.

According to Knight Frank Rockhampton Principal Pat O’Driscoll the master planned mixed use tourism and residential development has been solf to Chinese investor Ding Zuo Hong.

Situated 45 kilometres east of Rockhampton and 20 kilometres from Great Keppel Island, the resort features a rudimentary 18-hole golf course on prime seaside land, along with a clubhouse, conference and wedding facilities and a substantial residential subdivision.

When developed, it was described as “world's largest synthetic golf course”, the Dadsons having used artificial turf in their design of the 18-hole course because of the high salt content in the soil.

Chris Dadson moved to the Capricorn Coast in 1989 and saw the opportunity to develop a township at Zilzie Bay.

In 2010, Dadson told The Morning Bulletin newspaper that he saw a “mini city” when he purchased the beachfront land.

Livingstone Shire Mayor Bill Ludwig said the investment would be a catalyst for revitalising the coast’s tourism market.

The Planet Golf website describes the “abandoned golf course” as being “essentially flat and featureless and seemingly ripe for redesign.

“The routing could hardly be more basic, yet there are 120 acres of land in play and clear potential given the proximity to the Capricorn coastline.”

Planet Golf added “what the new owner plans for golf remains to be seen, but the selling agent has been quoted as suggesting a golf club upgrade was in the pipeline. Whether that involves change to the actual golf layout or simply the addition of a hotel is unclear.

Currently there is considerable gold resort activity in the regions with the proposed Great Keppel Island Resort Masterplan including an 18-hole resort course by Greg Norman Golf Course Design, along with an airstrip, 250-bed hotel, 250-berth marina and 1,000 luxury villas and apartments.

Further north, the Chinese owners of Lindeman Island are planning a major upgrade to their development, including to the island’s nine-hole course. 

Images courtesy of Keppel Cove Resort.

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