A remote Kimberley island, once transformed into a luxury escape by the flamboyant businessman Alan Bond, is poised for a dramatic $300 million transformation into a strategic marine and aviation hub.
From Glamorous Resort to Strategic Hub
Cockatoo Island Resort was the epitome of 1980s excess when it opened in 1989. Promoted as one of Australia's most exclusive getaways, it offered its wealthy guests 20 luxury bungalows, a health club, tennis courts, and a stunning clifftop infinity pool overlooking the Buccaneer Archipelago. However, this venture, located 130km north of Derby, became a high-profile casualty of the collapse of Bond's business empire. Sold off by bankers in the early 1990s, the resort managed to operate only briefly before closing its doors for good.
A New Decade, A New Vision
Now, the WA Government has approved a massive redevelopment plan that will give the narrow, 6km-long island a completely new purpose. Perth-based Crestlink Pty Ltd, an Australian company backed by prominent US defence infrastructure investor Cerberus Capital Management, will lead the $300 million project to create a marine and aviation logistics base. Crestlink has been pursuing this vision for nearly a decade, with the government granting it major project status back in 2019.
The ambitious development includes sealing the island's current dirt airstrip, constructing a new wharf, and building a subsea workshop. Crestlink believes this upgraded infrastructure will provide unrivalled support for the resources and defence sectors, aiding offshore exploration and development while enhancing coastline monitoring capabilities for the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Border Force.
Honouring Heritage and Building the Future
The project also represents a new chapter in the island's rich industrial history. The plan involves redeveloping port infrastructure originally built to support iron ore mining by BHP, which operated on the island over a 40-year period starting in the 1940s. During BHP's time, Cockatoo Island was a bustling community with dozens of families living in houses spread over its hills. When mining ended in 1986, many of these 40 houses and the island's pub were refurbished and incorporated into Alan Bond's ill-fated tourism venture.
The development has significant local backing. The Dambimangari people, who hold native title over the island, are shareholders in Crestlink. Cerberus Capital Management, which manages nearly $100 billion in assets, stated last year that the Cockatoo Island support base would deliver a direct investment of $300 million to the Kimberley region, with $100 million spent in the first three years alone.
