A remote resort in Western Australia's north has changed hands for the first time in almost 20 years — finally ending one man's 50-year connection to the site.
Lake Argyle Resort, in the east Kimberley, has been sold by the Sharpe family to Australian tourism provider G'day Group for an undisclosed sum.
"It's been a huge part of my life," Charlie Sharpe said of his family business and childhood home.
The 12-hectare property, overlooking the man-made Argyle dam, evolved into an award-winning holiday destination from humble beginnings.
The spectacular site on the ridge was once the dam construction workers' village, which housed 650 people and included a hospital, police station, post office and school.
After the dam was built, demolition was underway on the village when a business group offered to take it over as a holiday camp in 1973.
Charlie Sharpe and his brother were youngsters when they arrived with their parents at Lake Argyle in August 1973 for his dad's job with the Public Works Department.
"Where the infinity pool now is, that was where my school room was," Mr Sharpe said.
"My mum was my teacher. And she was very frustrated by the fact that I spent the whole day gazing out the window.
Mr Sharpe went on to work in tourism and business companies around the world, including for a consortium that wanted to build a casino, golf course and airport near the Argyle village in the 1980s, only for it to be shelved with the 1987 stock market crash.
But Mr Sharpe had never forgotten the view from that old classroom window, and when in 2004 the opportunity arose to lease the site, Charlie Sharpe returned home.
"It was in its worst state in 2004," he recalled of the huge job facing him and wife Chantal.
But Mr Sharpe's vision was clear.
He took away most of the old buildings and started from scratch. His finishing touch was the resort's famous infinity pool — which has featured in many social media posts.
Tears will flow, but the magic will remain
G'day Group, which owns 80 holiday properties around the nation, also signed a multi-million-dollar deal in early 2021 to buy El Questro station, 60 kilometres north of Lake Argyle.
CEO Grant Wilckens has committed to "keeping the magic" the Sharpes created as well as investing in further capital works.
"It is an absolute premier property. We're delighted to have it as part of our portfolio. We see the Kimberley as a really important strategic direction for us," Mr Wilckens said.
"Charlie and his family have done an incredible job. We feel as though we can continue the love."
The sale is expected to be finalised in March and although Charlie Sharpe hopes to return for holidays, leaving Argyle for the final time will be hard.
"I've driven that Argyle Road, 37 kilometres out to the turn-off, 4,000 or 5,000 times in the last 40 to 50 years. So when I get to that corner and turn right instead of left, it's going to tug at the heart," Mr Sharpe said.
