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What could go wrong?
This has been tried before.
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The Dollop podcast did an episode on the “Whalesplosion”. IIRC the car that got crushed belonged to the one guy that was trying to tell the engineers that they were packing too much explosive in.
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Think that was almost the first hint I saw on the internet
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A good series is Robert Harris’s series, largely based on Cicero, the Roman orator and lawyer, narrated by Cicero’s slave/secretary. The books are Lustrum, Imperium and Dictator, running from Cicero’s entry into Roman political life running for consul in the years till Cicero’s death, a few years after Caesar’s. Fascinating stuff, even though I did 6 years of Latin at school including Sallust’s Catiline Conspiracy.
Harris has written such books as Enigma, Conclave and Precipice (the story of British PM, H H Asquith, during WW1).
I recommend Pompeii too.
Good reading
Triple-murderer Erin Patterson is fighting to have her conviction quashed, claiming there was a “substantial miscarriage of justice” during her trial.
She’s got nothing to lose from appealing, but i dont see any circumstances in which see wins
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Reasons for resort abandonment (AI):
- Natural disasters: Cyclones, such as Cyclone Yasi in 2011, severely damaged or destroyed many resorts, including Lindeman and Dunk Island.
- High operating costs: Deregulation in the 1990s contributed to high costs for transport, insurance, and maintenance, which eroded profits, according to this article from Two At Sea What’s The Deal With Queensland’s Abandoned Resorts? (Australia) – Two At Sea
- Aging infrastructure: The cost of maintaining, repairing, and updating aging resort structures became too high for many owners.
- Stalled developments: Some resorts are stuck in a cycle of ownership changes and stalled development plans, often exacerbated by economic downturns or developer inaction,
ABANDONED PARADISE: AUS RESORTS LEFT BEHIND
1. Double Island (Cairns Region)
The Queensland government has warned more owners of abandoned resorts that it is willing to act if they are in breach of lease conditions – as they did with Double Island. Picture: Brendan Radke
The government has put in security and safety measures to protect the rest of the resort until a new buyer can be found to take it on.
Status: Abandoned; resort in ruins.
Ownership: Previously owned by Benny Wu; now state-owned.
Current Status: Queensland government issued an ultimatum to redevelop or forfeit lease.
2. South Molle Island (Whitsundays)
The resort on South Molle Island in the Whitsundays in a dilapidated state. Picture: Allards Across Oz
The property was held by a foreign investment firm. Picture: Allards Across Oz
Status: Resort devastated by Cyclone Debbie in 2017; remains abandoned.
Ownership: Previously purchased by a Chinese company; now under state control.
Current Status: Up for sale; expressions of interest sought for redevelopment.
3. Lindeman Island (Whitsundays)
The resort on Lindeman Island off Mackay is in a derelict state after being hit by Cyclone Yasi. Picture: Ron Altmann
Many of the impacted resorts such as this on Lindeman Island off Mackay were heavily damaged by cyclones. Picture: Ron Altmann
Status: Club Med resort abandoned; uninhabited for nearly a decade.
Ownership: Recently bought after 10 years of vacancy.
Current Status: Restoration efforts began in early 2024.
4. Hook Island (Whitsundays)
The stunning location of Hook Island Lodge which was abandoned after being hit by a cyclone in 2011.
An artist’s impression of the new Hook Island eco lodge.
Status: Abandoned after Cyclone Anthony in 2011.
Ownership: New owner plans eco-lodge development.
Current Status: Development application for $40 million eco-lodge lodged.
5. Brampton Island (Mackay Region)
Aerial view of Brampton Island with Carlisle Island in the background off the coast of Mackay in the Great Barrier Reef. Picture: Heidi Petith
A community campaign because called Save Brampton Island. Picture: Facebook.
Status: Resort closed; infrastructure deteriorating.
Ownership: Owned by United Petroleum since 2010.
Current Status: Resort remains abandoned; future uncertain.
6. Great Keppel Island (Yeppoon)
Great Keppel Island resort took a beating. Picture: Qweekend.
It seems almost unfathomable that such a great location could be left to rot. Picture: Qweekend.
Status: Resort deteriorating since 2008 financial crisis.
Ownership: Ownership changes; current status unclear.
Current Status: Efforts to revive resort ongoing.
7. Laguna Quays (Near Airlie Beach)
The Laguna Quays area sustained heavy cyclone damage including this boat ramp and marina.
The main building of Laguna Quays Resort abandoned. Picture: Samantha Hale via Flickr.
Status: Resort closed shortly after opening due to bankruptcy.
Ownership: Ownership and future plans unclear.
Current Status: Resort remains abandoned.
8. Capricorn Resort (Yeppoon)
Images of Capricorn Resort in its worst state.
The resort was left to get overrun by nature for years.
Status: Closed in 2016 due to neglected facilities.
Ownership: Ownership and future plans unclear.
Current Status: Resort remains abandoned.
9. Keswick Island (Mackay Region)
There has been a community campaign to revive Keswick Island off the coast of Mackay in the Great Barrier Reef. Picture: Heidi Petith
The property was bought by offshore investors. Picture: Heidi Petith
Status: Resort inactive; Chinese leaseholder controversies.
Ownership: Owned by Chinese company; leaseholder issues.
Current Status: Queensland government threatening to seize control.
10. Dunk Island – QLD
This property is expected to receive millions in attention from its new billionaire owners. Picture: Anna Rogers.
Images of the property taken the year before the pandemic. Picture: Anna Rogers
Status: Iconic resort wiped out by Cyclone Yasi (2011).
Current: Remains in ruins; several failed redevelopment attempts.
Ownership: Privately owned (recently sold in 2022); no confirmed rebuild.
11. Hinchinbrook Island Resort – QLD
The bones are holding but the spirit is derelict in these file images at Hinchinbrook Island.
Abandoned resort images at Hinchinbrook Island.
Status: Luxury wilderness lodge closed after Cyclone Yasi.
Current: Site vandalised and collapsing.
Ownership: Privately owned; no development activity.
12. St Bees Island – QLD
Aerial view of St Bees Island off the coast of Mackay in the Great Barrier Reef. Picture: Heidi Petith
St Bees Island file image.
Status: Not necessarily rundown as under-utilised. Resort facilities are unused, the island is leased long-term.
Current: Known for rock wallabies; tourism infrastructure inactive.
Ownership: Private leaseholder.
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Good luck getting any sort of insurance for these places.
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A suspended warrant for Bruce Lehrmann’s arrest has been issued, while his lawyer copped a dressing down after the pair were no-shows in court over a car-stealing charge.
The former political staffer was listed to appear in Hobart Magistrates Court this morning.
He faces arrest unless he sends a medical certificate to court and then attends, along with his Sydney solicitor Zali Burrows, a delayed hearing on December 4.
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Hope she cops another 20 years so she’s guaranteed to die in the clink
I stayed there one time. Great spot, tiny little youth hostel, the only facility on the island. We even got the tailend of a tropical cyclone while were there, just to get the full experience.
The artist’s impression is fairly generous though. The beach was pretty muddy below the high tide line, and while there was coral just off the hostel, the water was NEVER that colour…
Cape Tribulation Resort and Spa was another one abandoned after 2011. I stayed there one too, a gorgeous and pretty high-end place. Must have cost a fortune to keep it running.
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The only miscarriage of justice was that she couldn’t receive the death penalty.
Her best chance would be to plead mental incompetence. At least that is how she appeared from the news reports.
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Our good friend JMc picking up the duties.
Menulog closing all operations in Australia on Nov 26th
bliss n eso just fell to their knees in a guzman y gomez
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We are talking “Fruit of the Gods” here, so a Mango connoisseur opinion is urgently required to verify this comment:
“It’s just got a really good strong Kensington Pride-type flavour, which is what we all love,” he said “[But it’s] typically a bit stronger than normal Kensington Pride. It’s a little less fibrous as well, so not quite as stringy.”
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Stringy mangoes are the best. The firm ones have no character.