Tasmania's Ninth Island being marketed to Chinese buyers

Ninth Island, an island in Bass Strait off Tasmania, has been listed for sale, with the marketing aimed at Chinese buyers. Its price estimate is about $500,000.

Harrison Humphreys agent Rob Harrison has the Ninth Island offering. It is not the vineyard that looks towards the island, but has been listed by the same owners, Kreglinger Australia.

The vineyard and label are not for sale.

About 1.3 kilometres long, 550 metres wide, the 16 hectare island is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying 11.7 kilometres from the north-eastern coast of Tasmania.

It is partly privately owned and has been badly affected in the past by grazing and frequent fires, but home to a large mutton bird rookery.

In July 1995 the MV Iron Baron oil spill killed between 2,000 and 6,000 little penguins.

An earlier maritime incident was Sheerwater, captained by the grandfather of the Crown Princess of Denmark, and native Tasmanian, Mary Donaldson.

It was 1962 when Captain Peter Donaldson was on voyage from Bass Strait Islands, Tasmania with a cargo of livestock and a crew of five, when she was lost off Ninth Island, Bass Strait. From Whitemark for Launceston via Badger Island with sheep, it was wrecked on a reef just off Ninth Island on 23 August 1962. The crew were saved, but sheep were not so fortunate. 

"This picturesque island is eponymous to Tasmania's leading quality pinot noir brand as the Ninth Island brand take their name from this island as it is viewed from the vineyards," the ad says.

The marketing says it is just a short helicopter flight from mainland Tasmania.

Source: Australian Financial Review

Feature photo courtesy of Jeff Jennings.