Australian holiday park network G’day Group has purchased Lake Argyle Resort in the Kimberley from the Sharpe family – who have run the property for nearly 46 years.

Located at the famed Lake Argyle, which is 20 times larger than Sydney Harbour, the resort offers a range of activities including boat cruises, bush dinners, fishing and aquatic hire.

G’day Group Chief Executive Officer Grant Wilckens said the Sharpe family has created a very special experience.

“From luxury villas and a stunning infinity pool and helipad to affordable campsites, it’s a holiday experience that will leave an impression on even the most travelled of visitors,” Wilckens said.

G’day Group is Australia’s largest regional accommodation provider and has a number of properties in Western Australia, such as El Questro, which it acquired last year, and Discovery Rottnest Island. It also owns Kings Canyon Resort in the Northern Territory and has a large network of holiday and caravan parks around the country.

“Along with El Questro, we have fantastic properties in Broome and Kununurra. Our Broome property is currently undergoing a $10 million upgrade. We’re passionate about promoting the Gibb River Road and Savannah Way touring route and opening up this special part of Australia to more people, for longer,” Wilckens said.

G’Day Group plans to invest further in the Lake Argyle property, adding more rooms, sealing roads and creating a new reception area.

Owner Charlie Sharpe said the business has experiened “incredible growth” over the last 15 years and it was becoming too big for a small family operator.

“It’s been a beautiful journey with Lake Argyle, which is home to three generations of our family,” Sharpe said.  

“It’s a truly amazing place where as humans, we are almost insignificant in this ancient, rugged and almighty Kimberley landscape. Ten years living overseas in some of the world’s most popular tourist locations made me realise how special Lake Argyle is. If this lake was anywhere else in the world, it would be home to at least a million people.”

Sharpe is confident that G’day Group will help the property reach new heights.

“The fact that G’day Group are 100% Australian owned and operated was important to us,” he said.

“With such confidence in tourism investment across the Kimberley in recent years, this sparsely populated patch of stunning wilderness is without doubt soon to become a hotspot in domestic and international tourism.”

The sale is expected to settle in mid-March.