{{Short description|Island in Queensland, Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox islands | name = Makepeace Island | image_name = Makepeace Island 02.jpg | image_caption = Makepeace Island | image_size = | locator_map = | locator_map_size = | native_name = | native_name_link = | sobriquet = | location = Noosa River | coordinates = | archipelago = | total_islands = | major_islands = | area_km2 = | rank = | length_km = | width_km = | coastline_km = | highest_mount = | elevation_m = |country = Australia |country_admin_divisions_title = State |country_admin_divisions = Queensland |country_admin_divisions_title_1 = LGA |country_admin_divisions_1 = Virgin Group | population = | population_as_of = | density_km2 = | ethnic_groups = | additional_info = }}
'''Makepeace Island''' is a small heart shaped island in the Noosa River in the Shire of Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite QPN|20666|Makepeace Island|island in the Shire of Noosa|access-date=4 April 2024}}</ref> The island is currently owned by Virgin Australia (formerly known as Virgin Blue) founding partners, Brett Godfrey and Sir Richard Branson. The island is Sir Richard Branson's Australian home and can hold up to 22 guests accommodated in three 2-bedroom villas and a 4 bedroom Bali House wing. The property has a tennis court, theatre, two-storey Balinese wantilan, 500,000-litre pool and indoor bar and dining area.<ref name="Intermedia">{{cite news|title=Sir Richard Branson's Makepeace Island available to rent in Noosa|url=http://www.hotelmanagement.com.au/2011/07/12/sir-richard-bransons-makepeace-island-available-to-rent-in-noosa/|journal=HM Magazine|publisher=Intermedia|date=July 12, 2011|accessdate=22 January 2014|archive-date=1 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201211612/http://www.hotelmanagement.com.au/2011/07/12/sir-richard-bransons-makepeace-island-available-to-rent-in-noosa/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== History == The island (previously known as ''Pig Island'') was named after former owner, Hannah Makepeace who was bequeathed it by her employer for her faithful years of service on the island.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Noosa Aug2010">{{cite news |date=August 25, 2010 |title=Haunted by Hannah |url=http://noosa-journal.whereilive.com.au/news/story/haunted-by-hannah/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617004206/http://noosa-journal.whereilive.com.au/news/story/haunted-by-hannah/ |archive-date=2011-06-17 |accessdate=6 May 2012 |journal=The Noosa Journal |publisher=News Community Media}}</ref> Hannah was on the island as housekeeper and then owner until she died at the age of 89 in 1973.<ref name="Robb Nov2011">{{cite journal|last=Anderson|first=Max|title=Makepeace Island|journal=Robb Report|url=http://robbreport.com/Paid-Issue/Ultimate-Private-Islands-Australia-Makepeace-Island|date=November 2011|pages=140|access-date=23 May 2012|archive-date=23 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523084551/http://robbreport.com/Paid-Issue/Ultimate-Private-Islands-Australia-Makepeace-Island|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Death registration: Hannah Makepeace; Death date:27/08/1973 |url=https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/details/634934a8f9bdb0e8dfe8e4fd5ef49b440e1ce889c512d450ae68a353db2fa1f9 |access-date=4 April 2024 |publisher=Queensland Government |archive-date=4 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404031615/https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/details/634934a8f9bdb0e8dfe8e4fd5ef49b440e1ce889c512d450ae68a353db2fa1f9 |url-status=live }}</ref> The island was originally gazetted as owned by Charles Nicholas and his wife Agnes Alberta Nicholson in 1911. Hannah Makepeace was hired in 1924, and as he had no children, they bequeathed the island to Hannah, who took possession of it in 1950.<ref>{{cite news |date=11 November 1950 |title=Advertising |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50042787 |accessdate=4 April 2024 |newspaper=The Courier-mail |location=Queensland, Australia |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=4356 |archive-date=4 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404031815/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/50042787 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=25 July 1953 |title=At 69 she lives on an Island |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51078326 |accessdate=4 April 2024 |newspaper=The Courier-mail |location=Queensland, Australia |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=4 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404031902/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/51078326 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Australian Jul2011">{{cite news |last=Jarrat |first=Phil |date=July 30–31, 2011 |title=Bali by way of Noosa |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/bali-by-way-of-noosa/story-e6frg8rf-1226103405341 |accessdate=7 May 2012 |newspaper=The Australian |archive-date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811052001/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/bali-by-way-of-noosa/story-e6frg8rf-1226103405341 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Hannah was known by the community as a colourful character. {{quote|"Both my parents were teachers locally and would tell us all about Miss Makepeace, she was quite a character by all accounts."|Dennis O'Neill (Current caretaker)|The Noosa Journal}}
After Hannah died the island was owned by the state until 1986 when artist Brian Spencer bought the property and renamed it to Makepeace Island in honour of Hannah.<ref name="Australian Jul2011" />
The island was bought in 2003 by Brett Godfrey and Rob Sherrard before Sir Richard Branson bought Rob's half in 2007. Later that year, construction began on the island to turn it into a luxury resort. The designing of the property was done by Christopher Thomas and Mark Alexander, in collaboration with Brett's wife, Zahra Godfrey.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fantasy Island|newspaper=The Sunday Mail|date=November 15, 2009}}</ref> {{quote|"Much of the beautiful result is due to Zahra and her designers carrying the Balinese theme from the gardens to the decor."|Sir Richard Branson|Sunday Mail}} Gardens and indoor decor include giant sculptures, teak, granite and stone finishes, volcanic boulder bathtubs, ornamental lighting and antiquities and furniture commissioned and acquired in Bali, Java and elsewhere throughout Indonesia.<ref name="Intermedia"/>
In July, 2011, Makepeace Island was officially opened as 'Sir Richard's Australian Home' and was made available to the public for exclusive use hire.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sir Richard Branson's paradise island|url=http://www.cnngo.com/sydney/visit/richard-bransons-paradise-island-rent-269659|journal=CNN GO|publisher=CNN International|date=July 20, 2011|accessdate=23 May 2012|archive-date=15 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615192531/http://www.cnngo.com/sydney/visit/richard-bransons-paradise-island-rent-269659|url-status=live}}</ref>
== A private island == After construction was completed in 2009, Makepeace Island was used as a family holiday location for the owners and a function venue for Virgin Blue. Hip hop group the Black Eyed Peas and photographer Russell James attended the island launch.
In 2013 the property featured on the Seven Network's ''The'' ''X Factor'' with Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Guy Sebastian staying on the property.<ref>{{cite news|title=Australia: This Australian Private Island Has the X Factor|url=http://www.privateislandnews.com/australian-private-island-has-the-x-factor/|journal=Private Island News|date=August 19, 2014|accessdate=22 January 2014|archive-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202093643/http://www.privateislandnews.com/australian-private-island-has-the-x-factor/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The island can hold up to 22 guests.<ref>{{cite web|title=Makepeace Island|url=http://www.makepeaceisland.com/|publisher=[G] Commerce|accessdate=6 May 2012|archive-date=1 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501134534/http://makepeaceisland.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Queensland}} *List of islands of Australia {{Clear}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://makepeaceisland.com/ Makepeace Island] * [http://www.virginlimitededition.com/ Virgin Limited Edition] {{Commons category|Makepeace Island}}
{{coord|-26.3805|153.0445|type:isle_region:AU|display=title}}
Category:Private islands of Australia Category:Islands of Queensland Category:Geography of Sunshine Coast, Queensland