DBT Bureau
Pune, 24 Dec 2025
Blackstone reported that Real Estate funds managed by Blackstone have entered into an agreement to acquire Hamilton Island, an iconic integrated resort destination in the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, Australia, from the Oatley family. This investment, which is subject to customary regulatory approvals, builds on Blackstone’s leading global position in leisure and hospitality, including in the Asia Pacific region, where it has made significant investments across Australia, Japan and India.
Hamilton Island is located in the heart of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef and one of its great natural wonders. Hamilton Island spans more than 2,800 acres across two islands (around 70% of which remains undeveloped) and comprises five hotels, more than 20 restaurants and bars, 20 retail outlets, an 18-hole championship golf course on neighboring Dent Island, a marina, and a commercial airport. Hamilton Island is a significant employer in the Whitsundays, supporting a large on-island community and workforce as well as a broad network of regional partners, suppliers, and local businesses.
Chris Heady, Chairman of Asia Pacific & Head of Real Estate Asia, Blackstone, said: “Hamilton Island is an exceptional destination, and we are honored to build on the vision and dedication that the Oatley family has brought to investing in its transformation and add a standout asset to our portfolio. Hospitality and leisure is a key investment theme at Blackstone globally including in the Asia Pacific region, where we’ve brought scale and operational expertise to invest in and build leading brands. We are committed to investing in the long-term success of Hamilton Island, its people, and its local businesses and community.”
The Oatley family, Sandy, Ian and Rosalind, said: “We would like to thank our Board and Management for achieving this outcome, and welcome the new owners Blackstone. Hamilton Island has a special place in the hearts of many Australians. For more than two decades the family’s passion, led by Bob Oatley, has made significant investments to transform the island into one of Australia’s most loved and visited destinations, renowned for its natural beauty, variety of world-class accommodation, amenities and experiences, and ensuring its place as Australia’s Tropical Island. We are delighted to have a partner of Blackstone’s calibre and resources to continue the legacy, while supporting our people and island community.”
Australia is home to some of Blackstone’s most significant investments including Crown Resorts, the country’s largest hospitality employer with three premium entertainment and hospitality resorts in Sydney, Perth ,and Melbourne and AirTrunk, the largest data center platform in APAC.
Blackstone is a leading investor in hospitality and leisure globally. Its key investments include an eight-hotel portfolio from Kintetsu Group Holdings in Japan; a joint venture with Panchshil Realty on Ventive Hospitality, which owns and manages a portfolio of luxury hotels in India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka; and Great Wolf Resorts, a leading owner and operator of family-oriented entertainment resorts in the United States.
