Australia’s oldest nudist resort has just been sold – and the new owners have big plans

Nudists around the country are mourning the loss of Australia’s oldest and best-known naturist colony after it was bought by a property syndicate who have ordered a major cover-up.

Forty years of frolicking naked on the banks of the Wollondilly River, in the NSW Southern Highlands, have come to a rude end, with the historic River Island Nature Retreat now to undergo a complete overhaul to make it fit for families.

“Times have changed since the 1970s and 1980s when getting your clothes off in public was considered a pretty funky thing to do,” said Sydney property developer Kurt Braune, who led the buyout for just under the sale price of $4.75 million. “The demand for that kind of concept has diminished a lot.

“We know there are some people who do still love it, and some will be pretty upset to hear the news that clothing will no longer be optional, but mandatory. We’re making it a much more family-friendly property now, and one we think will have much broader appeal.”

Set up in 1984 by committed nudists Colin and Katina Sell, the River Island Nature Retreat sprawls over 90 hectares in Bullio, near Mittagong, about two and a half hours from Sydney, and includes another 480 hectares of wilderness.

With accommodation in cabins, caravans or campsites, it also has two pools, three spas and a wood-fired sauna, as well as a communal lounge with an open fireplace – something immensely popular in the winter for those wearing no warm clothes – a stage, TV and pool tables. There’s also an office or shop.

The resort was put up for sale shortly before Colin Sell died six months ago, aged 82. His widow plans to move out to be closer to family in Mittagong.

Braune said his KBC Group had a number of commercial holiday accommodation projects throughout Queensland and NSW, and added he had stayed at the retreat in the past and loved its setting, if not its lack of clothing.

He and his partners plan a significant upgrade to the property.

“I found a few people interested in investing in it and we want to improve the facilities and give it a real lift,” he said.

“There’s a bunch of old 1970s caravans that we’ll replace with moveable cabins, and we’ll modernise the existing cabins and tidy up the access road and the 50 campsites, and add things like a kids’ playground.

“We’ll also make sure it has mobile reception and internet access and smarten it up so it can also be used for functions and birthday parties. Generally, we like taking rundown businesses and properties and turning them around.

“This retreat is a really spectacular place with a long river frontage and so much natural beauty, we couldn’t resist.”

A friend of the Sells, who’s helping out until Braune takes over on December 1, says it’s very sad to see the end of its nudist nights and days.

“It is the end of an era,” she said. “There aren’t many places left at all like this and particularly in such a beautiful place. But it’s good they’re going to spend money on the place.”

But Braune is adamant that the time has finally come to ban bare bodies wandering around the place.

“I’m not a nudist and most of the people who were running around naked were an older crowd,” he said. “We thought about preserving a part of the retreat for nudists but it just wasn’t practical.

“So in future, everyone will have to wear clothes to come and enjoy the beautiful river and the lovely peace and quiet. We think it has a very exciting future, and we’re very pleased to be a part of that.”