Archaeological evidence, including middens, indicate that early in its history Brampton Island was used by Aboriginals for hunting and foraging expeditions, the Island was one of a number in a group at the southern end of the Whitsundays which was inhabited at regular intervals.

It was 1770 when the collection of islands was charted and named. On his voyage of exploration in the Endevour, James Cook charted the region and named the group of islands in honour of the Duke of Cumberland, brother to King George III. But it was more than a hundred years later that individual islands in the Cumberland group were named.

In 1879 Staff Commander Bedwell of the Royal Navy named each island in the group after a town in the Cumberland Lake District. However, the names were not provided to all government sectors and as a result, even as late as 1924 the Island which had been named �Brampton� was still charted and referred to as �M� Island by the Queensland government.

During the years, the Island was a favoured stop-over point for pearl luggers and had also played host to a number of escaped convicts who battled dangerous seas to make their way from the French penal settlement of Nou in New Caledonia in the hope of finding freedom.

Other early visitors to the Island included a couple from Sydney also in search of freedom. In the early 1800s George Thomasin and his intended Tamaela eloped bound for Brampton Island. Tamaela�s husband however did not take too kindly to the idea and followed. Though the couple�s boat was found by Tamaela�s husband and set alight, they managed to avoid discovery and were able to escape the Island on a dinghy and head to the mainland. Another historical anecdote, though less colourful, is that of the Queensland Agricultural Department�s scheme to assist those who ran into difficulties at sea and became shipwrecked on the islands of the Reef. In the late 1880s, a number of coconut palms were imported from Indonesia and planted along Brampton Island�s main beach. The coconut planting was intended to provide food and drink for shipwrecked mariners and trees on Brampton Island were also grown as stock for planting on neighbouring islands.

Later Brampton, like many islands in the Cumberland Group, was leased by the Crown as a pastoral property. In 1913 William Vereker Binden became the Island�s first European settler however, his death just 12 months later, saw use of the Island transferred to the lease holder of neighbouring St Bees Island.

Joseph Bussutin had settled on St Bees Island, 18kms south-east of Brampton, in 1907. Bussutin suffered from malaria and doctors suggested that island life might help his condition.

In 1916, the Bussutins, (Joseph, wife Sarah and five children) leased Keswick and Brampton Islands intending to breed chinchilla rabbits. However the climate proved too harsh for this delicate species and the project failed.

The Bussutins� next enterprise was breeding horses as mounts for use by the Indian Army. However, this was also a short-lived venture and the horses were left to run wild on Brampton Island.

A more successful business was to be found in tourism. The Bussutins had accepted paying guests on their St Bees homestead � the first tourists to the Whitsunday Islands - and following a successful day trip the growing tourism business was soon transferred to Brampton Island.

In 1932, two of Bussutin�s sons established the first tourist resort on Brampton Island. They named various bays on the island and built a number of small cabins � each with names as enchanting as �Beauties Boudior�.

Brampton was also the first Barrier Reef island to have radio transmitters installed. However a couple of years later carrier pigeons were back in service taking messages to and from the mainland. The first guests on Brampton Island were passengers from the SS Canberra, a P&O ship that provided passenger service along the east coast of Australia. The guests arrived in December 1933, and at this time the total cost of a three-week holiday, inclusive of return steamer fare from Sydney and 11 days on Brampton Island, was 27 pounds and 3 shillings. World War II saw Brampton Island close and in 1941 the Island became an army camp specialising in training Malay soldiers to infiltrate the Japanese. Though the camp itself was located on nearby Carlisle Island after the war the resort on Brampton Island was completely rebuilt.

The Bussutins retired in 1959 and Brampton was sold to Carapark Motels who in turn sold it to Motels of Australia two years later. The resort changed hands again in 1963 when the lease � then valued at 100,000 pounds � was purchased by Roylen Cruises.

Roylen was a family company founded by Tom Maclean � Captain Tom � who had pioneered cruising on the Great Barrier Reef and in the Whitsundays. Captain Tom had first taken guests through the Whitsunday aboard the Shangri-La (once the personal launch of General Macarthur). He later expanded the business by using ex-navy launches that had been refitted.

On taking over the management of Brampton Island, Captain Tom brought to the Island his vision for expanding tourism to the region. The construction of a deep water jetty on the Island, a rail line linking the jetty to the resort, the expansion of facilities to include a separate dining room and kitchen were some of the additions made.

The activities program was also expanded. In the new dining room, games including deck quoits, bowls and dances became an attraction with music provided by a pianola and records. A children�s activity program was also introduced. Air services to Brampton Island were also a part of Captain Tom�s vision to expand tourism to the region and a 12-seater flying boat service began operation. Bad weather however, often made the service unreliable and eventually an airstrip � officially opened on 21 March 1965 � made the Island more accessible.

Brampton Island became a destination for celebrities and hosted royal visits including that of Prince Charles in 1966. The Island also featured as a main prize on one of Australia�s leading television programs Pick-a-Box. Brampton�s fame continued to grow and during a royal visit to Australia is 1970 Tom Maclean received an MBE for his services to tourism.

Maclean continued his work on Brampton. In 1972, construction was completed on the island�s eye-catching salt-water swimming pool - carved out of solid rock. Previously a natural lagoon, the pool became the ideal location from which guests could enjoy a stunning tropical sunset. And in 1980, 16 new units were constructed on the island, all with ocean views.

As other resorts were built in the region, the Macleans found competing with large companies difficult. In April 1985 Tom Maclean reluctantly sold Brampton Island to Trans Australian Airlines (TAA).

Over a two-year period a construction and upgrading program included the addition of 92 guest units, a main complex with reception, restaurant and bar facilities and a boutique. Qantas Airlines later took over TAA and the resort. Brampton Island continued to enjoy popularity as a Whitsunday holiday destination.

On 24 December 1997, the 108-room resort, set adjacent a spectacular National Park, was added to the P&O Australian Resorts� portfolio of nature-based holiday destinations.

Upon formal acquisition in March 1998, the resort underwent a refurbishment program that included room upgrades and a reconfiguration of the main complex to allow guests to enjoy panoramic beach views. A reverse osmosis de-salination plant was also installed to improve fresh water supplies on the Island and the existing sewerage treatment system was also upgraded bringing it in line with P&O Australian Resorts environmental policies.

For bookings and further information on Brampton Island, contact P&O Australian Resorts on telephone 1800 73 76 78 (freecall Australia only) or 61 2 9277 5050.

Visit www.poresorts.com or email resorts.reservations@poresorts.com for information

Media Contact: (not for publication)

Julia Gauci P&O Australian Resorts 61 2 9364 8350 or julia.gauci@poresorts.com

P&O Australian Resorts offer premium nature-based holiday experiences in some of Australia�s most spectacular locations. Each property within the Australia�s Natural Treasures portfolio is a unique window to one of Australia�s World Heritage Listed areas. As well as Brampton Island, other P&O Australian Resorts include: Bedarra Island; Cradle Mountain Lodge; Dunk Island; Heron Island; Lizard Island