Influencer Haven The Isla is On The Block

Famous amongst influencers, Instagram followers and locals, boutique beachside motel The Isla has been listed for sale. 

The Batemans Bay motel and the adjacent Kon Tiki Apartments have been listed by the Canberra investment group who took on the motel as a “passion project” and capitalised on the buoyant domestic tourism market. 

One of the investors Alex Moulis said the investor group was made up of a group of friends from Canberra who loved holidaying on the NSW South Coast.

“During COVID we searched the NSW South Coast for distressed motels in need of renovation, eventually finding the Abel Tasman,” Moulis told The Urban Developer. 

“The property was rundown and very tired, so perfect for a refresh.”

The motel brought back nostalgic memories of family holidays and the investor group got involved in developing the look and feel, alongside the architects, to “create something that modernised the way we used to holiday”, Moulis said. 

“The best part of the building with views to the beach was being used as a manager’s residence, which we converted into high-yielding two-bedroom suites, one with a private plunge pool. 

“We used advancements in technology to our advantage to create a seamless online check-in system and did away with the traditional motel reception and live-in manager.”

▲ The interiors were redesigned to create a nostalgic beachside motel experience.

Moulis said developing a new brand and motel had been a lot of work but it had been a labour of love that the group were looking to repeat, following the sale of The Isla. 

“[We] are looking for another motel project. We love the entrepreneurial, startup and design aspect of these projects and want to apply all of our learnings and experiences from The Isla into another project.

“We are currently looking at motels in Victoria and northern NSW.”

While The Isla had become a notable attraction at Batemans Bay, social media was harnessed to help grow brand awareness and the business, Moulis said. But it was also word of mouth and positive guest experiences that set The Isla apart from its competitors. 

The Australian motel market is evolving with guests looking for modern comforts and architectural interiors. 

“The market is going to go from strength to strength. Modern motels may not have a slot in the door for a miniature box of Kellogg’s cereal to be delivered in the morning however they now feature designer Australian furniture, top of the range A.H. Beard mattresses, Chromecast and curated St Ali coffee pods that all give this style of property character, which guests are looking for,” Moulis said. 

“We were concerned going into 2023 with interest rates and cost of living impacting disposable income, however we were really content and encouraged with the first full year of trade. There is plenty of upside for a potential buyer as the motel reaches stabilised trade figures in 2025/26.”

CBRE’s Hayley Manvell and Tristan Cotchett have been appointed to run the expressions-of-interest campaign. 

The motel comprises 18 guest rooms and suites of various configurations. The property offers a swimming pool, barbecue facilities, outdoor and indoor lounge areas, onsite carparking with electric-vehicle charging stations and a mini bar area for guests to enjoy vending machines stocked with bespoke and locally sourced products.

The neighbouring Kon Tiki Apartments offers seven two-bedroom apartments in various room configurations.

Together the two properties occupy an amalgamated 3238sqm freehold land parcel, which could offer redevelopment potential with a Stewart Architecture scheme for 58 two-bedroom apartments across a four-storey block. 

In the 12 months to June 2023, the NSW South Coast Region recorded a total domestic visitation of 12.6 million, a 57.6 per cent growth, with a total of 15.3 million nights spent and total domestic expenditure of $4.1 billion, a 47.6 per cent growth.