Lindeman Island

{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{short description|In the Whitsunday Islands}} {{Infobox islands | name = Lindeman Island | image_name = | image_size = | image_caption = | locator_map = | locator_map_size = | map_caption = | location = Coral Sea | coordinates = | archipelago = Whitsunday Islands | total_islands = 74 | major_islands = | area_km2 =  | area_footnotes = | rank = | length_km =  | length_footnotes = | width_km =  | width_footnotes = | coastline_km =  | coastline_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_footnotes = | highest_mount = Mount Oldfield | Country_heading = | country = Australia | country_admin_divisions_title = State | country_admin_divisions = Queensland | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Local government area | country_admin_divisions_1 = Mackay Region | country_admin_divisions_title_2 = | country_admin_divisions_2 = | country_capital = | country_largest_city = | country_largest_city_population = | country_leader_title = | country_leader_name = | demonym = | population = | population_as_of = | density_km2 = | density_footnotes = | ethnic_groups = | website = | additional_info = }}

'''Lindeman Island''' is an island in the Lindeman Group of the Whitsunday Islands off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The island was named by Captain Bedwell after his sub-lieutenant, George Sidney Lindeman whilst aboard the Royal Navy vessel {{HMS|Virago|1842|6}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-factsheet/lindeman-island--culture-and-history-20081124-6fda.html |title=Lindeman Island – Culture and History |access-date=12 August 2010 |date= 1 January 2009|work=Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media }}</ref>

Most of the island is included in the Lindeman Islands National Park, which also protects another 13 islands.<ref name="ali">{{cite web |url=http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/lindeman-islands/about.html |title=About Lindeman Islands |date=8 May 2012 |publisher=Department of Environment & Resource Management|access-date=30 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121127033603/http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/lindeman-islands/about.html |archive-date=27 November 2012 }}</ref> There are also a resort and an airport on the island.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/australia/queensland/whitsunday-islands/transport/getting-there-away |title=Transport in Whitsunday Islands |publisher=Lonely Planet|access-date=30 May 2012 }}</ref> Lindeman Island was created after a volcanic mountain range was drowned by rising sea levels.<ref name="ali"/>

==History== thumb|Lindeman Islands The island was occupied by Aboriginal tribes, known generally as the Ngaro, until circa 1900, who used the area for fishing. It is unknown if they lived on the island permanently. An incident occurred on nearby Shaw Island between the local tribe and some Europeans in late August 1861. One aboriginal was shot dead and Henry Irving, a squatter from Broadsound, and Nicholas Millar, a sailor from Rockhampton, were bludgeoned to death. The Native Police officer at the logging camp of Eugene Fitzalan on Whitsunday Island was notified.<ref>{{cite news|title=Massacre of Two Men by the Blacks on Shaw's Island|publisher=The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser|date=8 October 1861}}</ref> A large punitive mission afterwards set out in two schooners under Lieutenant Williams. They destroyed the native camp and burnt or impounded all the canoes found. The aboriginals themselves apparently escaped into the mountainous terrain.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Kennedy|publisher=Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser|date=26 October 1861}}</ref> They resisted later attempts to be relocated to the mainland. In 1905 Captain James Adderton<ref name=Adder>Creating Island Resorts, Brian King, 1997, {{ISBN|0-415-14989-4}}</ref> took out a sheep grazing lease over the island and established facilities for shearing. In 1923 Angus Nicolson began a small lodge for visitors, although he did not build permanent accommodation until 1929. The Nicolsons had local Ngaro people working for them on the island.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dickson|first1=Fiona|title=The Ngaro people of the Whitsundays|website=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/06/25/2285036|access-date=20 July 2017}}</ref> Goats roamed wild and visitors were requested to shoot only for food.

Before the end of World War II, Reg Ansett of Ansett Transport Industries saw the potential of the area and began planning for air services. Starting in 1952 Barrier Reef Airways began flying boat services to a number of islands including Lindeman. Ansett opened Whitsunday Coast Airport in 1957 to allow transfers to smaller island aircraft. The resort was sold to P&O in 1974.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110908829 Dunk Island] ''Canberra Times'' 13 September 1978 page 3</ref> It was later sold to the State Government Insurance Office, who sold it in 1985 to East-West Airlines.<ref>East West gets a place in the sun ''Australian Aviation'' issue 31 March 1985 page 16</ref> In 1992 it was sold to Club Med.<ref>[https://www.afr.com/companies/ambitious-club-med-to-consider-asx-float-19920722-k50h9 Ambitious Club Med to consider ASX float] ''Australian Financial Review'' 22 July 1992</ref>

==Resort== The resort was the first Club Med established in the Whitsunday Islands and in 1992 became the only Club Med village in Australia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.whitsundaytimes.com.au/story/2009/08/20/club-med-looks-for-investors/ |title=Club med looks for investors |access-date=12 August 2010 |date=20 August 2009 |work=Whitsunday Times |publisher=APN News & Media }}</ref>

Lindeman Island resort was closed on 31 January 2012 after Cyclone Yasi.<ref name="lstd">{{Cite news |url=http://www.whitsundaytimes.com.au/story/2012/02/02/lindeman-shuts-the-doors/ |title=Lindeman shuts the doors |access-date=7 April 2012 |date=2 February 2012 |newspaper=Whitsunday Times |publisher=APN News & Media }}</ref>

On 27 April 2012 it was purchased by White Horse Holding, a Chinese firm, for $12 million.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/rundown-lindeman-island-sells-for-12m-20120427-1xprr.html |title=Run-down Lindeman Island sells for $12m |author=Dan Nancarrow |access-date=28 April 2012 |date=27 April 2012 |work=Brisbane Times |publisher=Fairfax Media }}</ref> The price paid was considerably lower than expected because the resort needed refurbishment. White Horse announced plans to redevelop the Island into three luxury resorts (5 star beach resort, 6 star spa resort, and 6 star eco resort) including upgrading the airstrip and facilities, a proposed 'safe harbour' where approximately 50 boats will be able to moor, two tourist villa precincts and a central village with restaurants and cafes, sporting facilities, retail shops and communal recreation areas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lindeman.net.au/|title=Home|website=Lindeman Island Resort|language=en-US|access-date=2016-03-01|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303202654/http://lindeman.net.au/|url-status=dead}}</ref> This project got stuck in development difficulties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/articles/chinese-developer-white-horse-selling-lindeman-island-after-a-decade-adrift.html|title=Chinese developer White Horse looking to sell Lindeman Island after a decade adrift|website=Business News|language=en-US|access-date=2023-04-04}}</ref>

White Horse sold the island at a loss to a Singapore-based family in early 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/singaporeans-snap-up-lindeman-island-for-a-song/news-story/b9ed60d36e4e618cce2dacc7f5f050f6|title=Singaporeans snap up Lindeman Island for a song|website=The Australian|language=en-US|access-date = 2023-04-04}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline}}

Category:Ansett Australia Category:P&O Category:Whitsunday Islands