Originally known as �Coonanglebah� - the isle of peace and plenty - the local Djiru peoples had found this tropical island a paradise of plentiful food supplies.

James Cook, encountered a group of islands - which he called the Family Islands - on his now famous travels through the Great Barrier Reef in 1770. However, of the numerous islands, only one was charted and named.

Dunk Island, � the largest of the Family Islands - named after Cook�s patron Lord Montague Dunk, the Earl of Sandwich and the First Lord of the British Admiralty, was charted on 8 June 1770.

It was several years later, in 1897 when the first European settlers, E J Banfield and his wife Bertha, arrived on Dunk Island. In September 1896 Banfield and friends had camped on the beaches of Dunk Island. Later when doctors diagnosed exhaustion and advised Banfield he had just six months left to live, his thoughts returned to Dunk Island and the prospect of living out his remaining time �close to nature� in the fashion he had read the American philosopher Thoreau describe.

Paying an annual rental of two shillings and sixpence per acre, Banfield was able to secure a 30 year lease on a small allotment of Dunk Island. For a short period of time, the Banfields lived in tents until the small, prefabricated cedar hut - which Banfield had shipped to the island - was assembled.

Built with the assistance of Tom, an Aborigine the Banfields had met on their previous visit to the Island, the small hut sheltered the Banfields for six years until larger accommodations were built.

The Banfields cleared four acres of land for a plantation of fruit and vegetables and also created a small farm of chickens, cows and goats. The abundance of seafood and mangrove vegetation, ensured the Banfields were almost self-sufficient and island life certainly agreed with Banfield. Whilst doctors had predicted a life of 6 months Banfield continued his joyful island life for another 26 years.

Dunk Island�s flora and fauna fascinated the former Townsville Daily Bulletin journalist and he meticulously recorded his observations. He also went on to write a series of articles about island life under the amusing pseudonym Rob Krusoe.

Ten years after arriving on Dunk, Banfield also wrote a full-length book entitled �Confessions of a Beachcomber�. Published in 1907, the book became a celebrated text for romantics and would be castaways and established Dunk Island�s reputation as an exotic island paradise.

Over time life on Dunk inspired Banfield to write several other books including �My Tropical Isle� in 1911 and �Tropic Days�. In these he shared the secrets of nature that he had uncovered and described the customs and legends of the Aboriginal people on the island.

Banfield detailed the birdlife � over 150 species can be found on the island � the animals of the rainforest, including the spectacular electric blue Ulysses butterfly now the icon of the island, and the fascinating creatures he saw in the clear waters off the island including turtles. The books brought Banfield great fame, many letters and even a few unannounced visitors.

E J Banfield passed away on 2 June 1923 - suffering appendicitis. His memorial site, located in his garden is still on the island. Banfield�s novel �Last Leaves from Dunk�, was published posthumously.

Bertha remained on the island for another year before leaving Dunk. When she died, ten years later, her ashes were returned to the island and placed in the stone cairn which marks the Banfield�s final resting place.

When Captain Robert Brassey, grandson of a former Governor of Victoria bought the island for 10,000 pounds in 1934, the Banfield bungalow provided the basis for the beginnings of a resort. His son Hugo capitalised on family connections and as a result, Dunk Island became a playground for wealthy Victorian tourists who stayed at the resort for several weeks at a time.

The first Dunk Island �resort� was owned by Spencer Hopkins and managed by the George Morris family and dinner was often braised turtle and claret.

The island was annexed by the RAAF during World War Two - its small airfield deemed valuable - and radar equipment was installed near Mt Kootaloo, the highest peak on the Island.

In 1956, Eric McIlree of the Avis Rent-A-Car company purchased the island and upgraded its facilities. Dunk Island became a popular destination for celebrities including Sean Connery, Henry Ford II and former Australian prime ministers Harold Holt and Gough Whitlam.

The 1960s saw many return to the �natural� thinking of Thoreau and his writings. An artist who would become inextricably linked with Dunk Island was one of the first to return to a simple life close to nature.

Bruce Arthur, a weaver acclaimed for his hand dyed and hand woven wool tapestries, was drawn to Dunk Island seeing it as the perfect venue for an artists colony - isolated and inspirational. Having secured a lease on the Island, Bruce set up home and an art studio and over the years a number of artists including well known Australian artist Clifton Pugh was one of the many who visited to pursue their own talents or to learn the art of weaving. The reputation of Bruce�s artist colony grew, as did the collection of hand built mud brick buildings which were to house visiting artists and friends at this very social, if not eccentric retreat. While Bruce died in 1998 the tradition of the Artist Colony continues, and today remains a drawcard for guests.

Trans Australian Airlines (which later became Australian Airlines) bought Dunk Island in 1976 and embarked on a major construction program. The resort�s main complex of restaurants, bars and lounges was built at this time and won a number of national design awards. In 1992, following a takeover of Australian Airlines, ownership of the island passed to Qantas.

P&O Australian Resorts became owners of the property on 24 December 1997. An extensive multi million refurbishment program commenced in March 1998 upgrading the accommodations and the central complex. An AUS$8million refurbishment was completed in 2000 with the Dunk transformed as the island of Peace and Plenty.