Pumpkin Island for Sale Only For the Second Time Ever

Pumpkin Island, Australia’s most luxurious and sustainable tropical hideaways, hit the market this month, with a flood of inquiries arriving from across the globe. Sales records show it is only the second time the island has been listed for sale; the first time was 2003, when the couple purchased it from Roger and Merle Mason, who, over their 40 years of ownership, set up five rudimentary beach cottages. The Keppel Islands is an archipelago of 17 islands of which Pumpkin Island is the only privately owned holding. It is owned under a leasehold arrangement with the state government, with a rolling permit that can be renewed every 24 years. International buyers would need to seek permission to purchase through the Foreign Investment Review Board. Lauded for its sustainability practices, Pumpkin Island offsets 150% of its annual greenhouse gas emissions through recycling, minimal waste as well as the use of solar panels and wind to generate power. A filtering system turns rainwater into drinking water. Interested buyers have a deadline of Sept. 1 to submit offers, with owners Wayne and Laureth Rumble expecting about A$25 million (US$17 million) for the 18-acre property they have owned for the last 17 years. The Rumbles have upgraded the five beach cottages, adding two waterfront bungalows that contain a games room, a library and a lounge and a licensed bar. Also on the island are a manager’s cottage, staff quarters and a double-story lookout. Included in the sale of the island are two registered moorings, a helicopter pad and a custom-built 36-passenger boat.