Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Our Story
A successful ecotourism journey from degraded sugar plantation to native forest
Thala Beach Nature Reserve first opened its doors to guests in May 1998 and has never closed since. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Thala has hosted more than 600,000 guests and diners. Built by Rob and Oonagh Prettejohn in the 1990s, the resort is still owned and operated by the Prettejohn family. Thala’s journey from a degraded sugar cane plantation to an internationally renowned eco resort is a passionate story that continues to evolve.
Throughout Thala’s operation, ongoing tree planting, weed eradication and habitat improvements, combined with ecotourism practices, have brought a dramatic increase in native forest, biodiversity and wildlife.
- 1970s
- Prettejohn family
custodians since - 1998
- opened, and never
closed since - 600,000+
- guests and
diners - 145
- acres of private
headland
1970s
The farm
Rob Prettejohn bought the property in the 1970s and quickly set about planting sugar cane, as was common in the region at the time.
In the early days sugar cane, watermelons and coconuts were farmed here, and part of the original coconut plantation still stands. Planting coconuts was ahead of its time: their uses were poorly understood by the mainstream and there was no established industry, so it wasn’t economically viable.
1985
The vision
After a chapter farming the land, Rob and Oonagh Prettejohn had an epiphany: rehabilitate the stunningly positioned headland and build a resort focused on nature, for nature-loving travellers visiting the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. It was an ecotourism venture before ecotourism became the popular idea it is today.
Since the 1970s
The rehabilitation
The Vine Thicket Forest along the beachfront, visible in the 1985 photo above, was the only original forest on the land. It’s a rare type of forest that grows on a thin layer of compost, and once removed it rarely recovers. Elsewhere it was heavily cleared for coastal development; at Thala it was left in its natural state.
It survives only because, in the early 1970s, Rob refused a government “Show Cause” notice to clear some 15 acres of rainforest behind the foredunes. His 1,700-tonne cane assignment was cut as a penalty. It’s a poignant example of how public policy has changed over the last 50 years.
Genuine local plant species, some propagated locally and some encouraged to flourish, were used to expand the fragile native forest while keeping it natural-looking.
The landscaping around the swimming pool was designed by photographing and studying nearby creeks and waterfalls, then sourcing, propagating and planting the same native species on site.
Removing weeds by hand and over-planting to outcompete them was a long-term strategy, and it has paid off. Weed trees are now outnumbered by natives and no longer considered a threat.
1990s
The build
Thala took years of painstaking design and construction to suit the property. In an era of concrete and glass resorts beside golf courses, Thala chose free-flowing tropical design and natural materials over ducted air conditioning and imported marble.
Architect Gordon McClymont worked closely with Rob and Oonagh to design a world-class resort for a challenging site. On-site waste management, intermittent power and water harvesting all had to be solved creatively for a remote resort to be built and run.
The resort was designed and built to fit the headland, with careful planning to minimise its impact and talented local tradespeople who had an affinity for nature and could adjust as needed to protect the environment around the job site.
The unorthodox approach sometimes met resistance from the local council and government of the day. A couple of decades later, those same bodies used Thala as a flagship example to gain eco accreditation for Douglas Shire and to champion sustainable Australian tourism on the international stage.
The character
Grand commissioned artworks and tropical colour define Thala’s character: a tribute to the traveller who finds beauty in nature and enjoys global wanderings.
On arrival, visitors notice a large painting of a White-bellied Sea Eagle nest in the lobby, commissioned from local artist William T. Cooper (1934–2015), whose work is held in collections around the world, including the National Library of Australia and the New Guinea government. It was his largest painting, and a wall of his house almost had to be removed to get it out when it was finished.
May 1998
The opening
Thala Beach Lodge, as it was known before becoming Thala Beach Nature Reserve, welcomed its first guests in May 1998. It was a resounding success: a strong affinity for nature paired with a luxury eco experience resonated with guests from around the world.
“Travelling, as pioneers, along our chosen path as eco-developers has rewarded us with a rich sense of achievement. We, since early childhood, have had an empathy for nature. And our vision embraces the use of scientific and husbandry principles to care for natural ecosystems, as well as creating and enhancing degraded environments. In such a way that people and the natural world both prosper and coexist. We are very proud of Thala Beach Nature Reserve and, I believe, it is the embodiment of this philosophy.”
Robert Prettejohn, founder
The ecotourism journey
Keeping the highest accreditation from Ecotourism Australia while welcoming guests from all over the world every day is an ongoing challenge.
The remote tropical location calls for problem-solving to minimise impact while keeping service high. Thala has weathered cyclones and a global pandemic and stands stronger than ever, with a team of passionate local staff.
Stainless steel water bottles for every guest, no single-use plastics, on-site waste and water treatment, water harvesting, a solar farm, the edible garden and a preference for local suppliers all contribute to Thala’s ecotourism philosophy.
Today
The legacy
Rob and Oonagh Prettejohn remain the owners of Thala Beach Nature Reserve, joined by their son Seton Prettejohn as a director. The family continues to oversee the resort and the custodianship of the land, keeping a welcoming and unique approach to hospitality for travellers now and well into the future.
Thala remains fiercely independent and locally owned and operated, a beacon for ecotourism among the largely foreign and chain-owned resorts in the region.
Become part of Thala’s story
Stay in the forest the Prettejohn family has spent fifty years bringing back.