Keppel Bay Marina celebrates 20 years

Keppel Bay Marina will celebrate 20 years since opening for business, creating a gateway for boating around the Keppel Islands, and welcoming local and visiting boats to the Capricorn Coast, this Sunday April 24.

The Wilson Family acquired this development project in 1989. Richard Wilson, a fourth generation Central Queensland cattleman, and his wife Libbie, were inspired by the vision for this project and what it would mean for Central Queensland.

"We saw this project as an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the region and really put the Keppel Islands and Capricorn Coast on the map," says Richard Wilson.

While the extensive planning, development and construction of the project commenced a decade prior, Stage 1 of Keppel Bay Marina as we know it today was launched by the then Premier of Queensland, the Hon Rob Borbidge MLA, on April 27, 1996.

This first stage consisted of 165 marina berths, charter loading dock with shade structure and drive up access, Marina Centre housing the Marina Office, Waterline Café, Brokerage, Chandlery, Tourist Services and Charter Bookings and Laundry, 15 Boatyard workberths, and Boat repair and Maintenance.

Prior to 1996, to own a boat on the Capricorn Coast meant having it on a trailer and anchoring in creeks or rivers to seek protection from the weather.

Early photos show a number of boats seeking free safe anchorage in the newly created Keppel Bay Marina basin prior to the construction of pontoons.

Boats cruising up the Queensland Coast would bypass the Capricorn Coast completely, hopping from Gladstone straight to Mackay. Today Keppel Bay Marina welcomes hundreds of cruising boats every year to Keppel Bay and the Capricorn Coast.

The first 165 berths took only a few years to fill, necessitating expansion in 2000, then again in 2008 and most recently 2013 marked the opening of the Northern Marina by Her Excellency Penelope Wensley AC, the Queensland Governor at the time. This brought the total number of berths to over 500 and made Keppel Bay Marina the largest privately owned marina in Australia and the largest in Northern Australia.

Ferries operated from Rosslyn Bay Harbour prior to 1996, but opportunities for cruises, boat charters and fishing charters were limited until the Marina Centre opened in 1996 providing Tourist Services and ferry and charter ticket sales.

Keppel Bay Marina has won many Tourism Awards and the Waterline Restaurant is famous for its local beef and seafood. Today, 18 Bayside Villas overlook the marina, representing the first stage of residential development under the Livingstone Shire Planning Scheme Rosslyn Bay Code approved for up to 400 residential units

The future of this development comprises a resort site, tavern, hotel, commercial centre, and further residential in varying sizes and configuration.

Keppel Bay Marina has been a catalyst for the growth of the Capricorn Coast, attracting tourist operations, marine trades, residents and developers to the region and facilitating tourism to Great Keppel and surrounding Islands and expanding boat ownership and enjoyment in the region.

Keppel Bay Marina will celebrate 20 Years on Sunday April 24 with the community invited to enjoy the boating facilities, dine at The Waterline Restaurant, browse the display of history and memorabilia, enjoy Ryan Conway playing Live on the Lawn and entertainment for the kids. More at keppelbaymarina.com.au.