Developers big plans for French Island’s former prison site

Speculation is growing about the nature of the plans to develop a former prison on French Island into a tourism destination after it was purchased by Chinese developers.

The remote island, largely undisturbed and home to just 100 permanent residents, has a former prison which is heritage listed on a site surrounded by a national park.

Phil Bock, the real estate agent who handled the sale of the 555 acre property, and the president of the French Island Community Association, said there was a lot of speculation about what would happen to the “run down” site.

It was operating as an organic farm until it was purchased by a Chinese company, the Wufu Group.

It’s reported the developers hope to turn it into a tourist destination.

“There’s a heritage listing over the cells, so my understanding is they have to preserve those,” Mr Bock told Neil Mitchell.

“As for the rest of the property, it’s all speculation.”

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Photo: Google Maps