Bedarra Island Resort is owned and operated by Sam and Kerri-Ann Charlton, who purchased the resort in 2011 shortly after it was devastated by Cyclone Yasi. After 18 months of rebuilding, the Charltons re-opened the resort as an all-inclusive barefoot luxury retreat catering to guests searching for a truly relaxing escape, on one of the most beautiful islands on the Great Barrier Reef.

Sam's affiliation with Bedarra began in 1984, when he first visited the island as a boy while on a family holiday. The resort, then being operated as a small-scale homestead style retreat, had coincidentally just been put up for sale. The Charlton family fell in love with the island on this holiday and Sam's parents - Margie & Murray - made a decision to bid for the property at auction. Unfortunately, the resort sold prior to auction to the owners of nearby Dunk Island, and the Charltons did not get the opportunity to bid.

Although unsuccessful with their attempted purchase, the Charltons' fascination with Bedarra and its natural beauty remained. A local real estate agent then introduced the Charlton family to Noel Wood – a renowned Australian artist who had owned and lived on another small part of Bedarra since 1936. Noel agreed to sell Murray & Margie a small portion of his land, which was the site of his visitor's cottage. The Charltons then set about converting the cottage into an island style villa in the true vision of the South Pacific tropical idyll – thatched roof, open lounges and bedrooms without walls - all overlooking their own private beach.

The family lived on the island for an 18-month period from 1986. Sam aged 12 and his brother Nicholas aged 10, spent their time homeschooled by their mother Margie and exploring the rest of the island by foot or kayak. With Noel Wood as their mentor, Sam and Nicholas learned about the flora, fauna, geography, geology and history of the island from a long-time resident with over 50 years’ first-hand knowledge of the secrets of the island.

The Charlton family decided to sell their idyllic island home in the early 1990’s, much to Sam’s dismay. Sam still maintained an affinity with the island, watching as successive owners bought and sold the various but scarce parcels of land on the island.

Years later, Sam courted his future wife Kerri-Ann around the islands surrounding Bedarra – camping on nearby Wheeler Island for a few nights. Watching the sunset over the group of islands and in particular Bedarra – Sam told Kerri-Ann in a somewhat prophetic statement that one day he hoped they would own Bedarra.