Hamilton Island Golf Course owner Bob Oatley passes away at age 87

Iconic Australian businessman and owner of Hamilton Island and Hamilton Island Golf Course, Bob Oatley, passed away at his Sydney home on Sunday morning, aged 87.

The self-made Australian billionaire and successful coffee grower, winemaker and sailor is survived by his wife and two children.

After selling off the bulk of his Rosemount Estate Wines to Southcorp in 2001 for a reported $1.5 billion, the Oatley family acquired tourist paradise destination Hamilton Island in far north Queensland for $200 million two years later, spending more than $350 million revamping it into a world-class luxury resort.

Oatley spent an additional $50 million on the 18-hole, par 71 Championship golf course on neighbouring Dent Island.

The exclusive course was design by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson, and is said to be one of the most challenging golf courses in the world.

Strung along the spectacular ridges and steep valleys of the island, the course is taking full advantage of its beautiful surroundings of the Whitsunday Islands and the Coral Sea.

The Australian billionaire was listed number 34 on the Forbes Australia’s Richest People list with an estimated net worth of $910 million. But despite his many great achievements in the business world, it was his yachting victories that he cherished the most.

Oatley was awarded a lifetime achievement award by Yachting Australia in 2015.

This year, his yacht Wild Oats XI, will sail on to Hobart without him for the first time since her launch back in 2005.