Surge in demand for tropical paradise as Whitsunday's nets big sale

Whitsunday achieves record month of sales as Melbourne buyers in lockdown dream of a tropical getaway.

Ray White Whitsunday sold more than $21 million worth of stock in August, with principal Mark Beale claiming he is fielding “dozens of calls” a day from southerners prepped to travel at the end of lockdown.

“So many people are looking to buy a holiday home in Airlie Beach with the option of living here full time or working from home", Beale says.

"It feels like everyone from down south wants to have a property here.

"So many of our buyers are working remotely anyway."

Recently, Hog’s Breath Café founder Don Algie sold his Whitsundays mansion Chesapeake Whitsundays through Beale.

The off-market sale was the highest price achieved in the Whitsundays mainland since 2018 when Mandalay House sold for $14 million.

The buyer was revealed to be Alan Thomas Galloway of the world famous Alabar horse breeding stud in Victoria.

“I was flying and I saw the mountain with Chesapeake on the top at 1000ft above sea level, it was like a beacon", Galloway says.

"I have fallen in love with Airlie Beach, it’s like a hidden gem, a slice of paradise."

Set on 22 hectares, the gated Chesapeake estate has a three bedroom, four bathroom home with a number of living areas, a full stainless steel chefs kitchen and an upper pool.