Hayman Island in Queensland's Whitsunday Islands has become one of Australia's most famous luxury holiday spots. It's home to the newly renamed InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef. But the island and the resorts on it have changed a lot since opening to holidaymakers.
From ownership changes, name changes and cyclones, this year it celebrates its 75th anniversary. Read on to see how it has changed over the years. Named by Commander Nares of the MHS Salamander in honour of his navigator, Thomas Hayman in 1896, the island was once grazed by cattle.
It later became a base for fishing trips and scientific research. Early accommodation was tents. Pictured is the first beach chalet, which was built in 1983.
It was a single room, timber-framed, fibro-clad house with a corrugated iron roof. Buildings were then converted to make a fishing resort. The island was bought by Reg Ansett of Ansett Airlines fame in 1947, paving the way for it to become an upmarket destination.
Ansett applied for a royal charter and permission was given to name the new hotel the Royal Hayman. It opened in 1950. Early decor included trendy split cane chairs and sofas.
Known as 'the king' of Hayman Island, William "Billy" Hutchinson, 82, has called Hayman home for 55 years. He started out as a skipper and now works on the resort's ponds and pools. "In the early days day guests would flood in drawn by the island's untouched beauty and every afternoon, a classic BBQ lunch was laid out," he tells 9Travel.
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