The couple that owns the only home on a secluded island in the Great Barrier Reef

When Tony Briggs and his wife started their business taking visitors on cruises through the Great Barrier Reef 20 years ago, he would sail past a small tropical island with a property tucked at the edge of the beach.

He wondered who lived in the shack on the otherwise uninhabited island. So one day he dropped anchor and knocked on the door.

“I popped in, went to shore and asked if he minded if I brought some guests to swim at the beach,” says Tony.

It’s the only home on Pelorus Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and only accessible by boat or helicopter.

Tony says there has only been two previous owners, and he’s not sure how the original lease was obtained.

It’s located on the only flat part to the south of the island next to the beach, with the rest maintained by Hinchinbrook Island, with camping allowed on the northern part.

The island is close to Townsville – about 1.5 hours – and even closer to the nearby mainland town of Lucinda with the Great Barrier Reef a stone’s throw away – or you can snorkel or fish in the the fringing reefs just off the island itself.

Tony offered to drop off weekly provisions on his trips back and forth – and when the owner started talking about selling, he put up his hand to buy.

That was over 20 years ago now and it’s been Tony Briggs’ secluded island escape ever since – a beachfront home with absolutely no neighbours.

Tony and his wife Vicki Briggs are the former owners of Coral Princess Cruises. Tony set up the company in 1984, and expanded it to three ships and several hundred staff. He is now retired – “and loving it”.

Before they sold their share in 2014, the couple used the property as a stopover for their cruise ships, taking guests there to visit the beach and snorkel.

Tony’s sister and brother-in-law had lived there for 18 years, acting as caretakers while Tony and his wife would come to stay for weekends, Christmas and Easter.

“It’s so spectacular, you get the sunset almost over the water. During the whale season the whales come right in close to the beach – whales and manta rays,” says Tony.

“It’s very open – it’s an open style house with verandahs all the way around. Most people can’t understand how you can own the lease on a tropical island.”

But now they feel like it’s time to move on, they have made the hard decision to sell what most people could only dream of.

The house, which is on an island leasehold, is being sold furnished and fully equipped, with solar panels and rainwater tanks, full 240 volt household appliances and good mobile phone coverage, and a fully equipped work shed.

It also comes with a speedboat thrown in, and there’s a barge service that goes past every day which can drop off groceries or any other necessities.

“It’s the seclusion of it. We used to love going there,” says Tony. “Vicki and I always looked forward to these special times.”

“It’ll be a very sad day when we sell it.”