Matana Plantation on Koro Island and Navodo Bay in Vanua Levu have been listed on the summer portfolio of global, luxury real estate marketplace Concierge Auctions.
The New York-based realtors unveiled its initial line-up on June 1, and auction will begin in Hong Kong on June 28 as it targets Chinese property investors and buyers, in the wake of a significant uptick from this market in the past four years.
A historic plantation and former copra estate, Matana was purchased in 1970 by Anita and the late Paul De Domenico, creators of Rice-A-Roni pasta products and former president of Ghirardelli Chocolate, America’s longest, continuously operating chocolate manufacturer.
“It was an amazing thing for my children,” said Anita de Domenico, whose family often stayed six weeks at a few, several times a year.
“We wanted them to know there was a whole world out there. There was no place more wonderful to be. It was hard for me to decide to give it up, but I am alone now and have to simplify my responsibilities. I need results so I can move on with my life, which is where Concierge Auctions comes into play.”
The property encompasses over 800 acres and is amongst the largest pieces of Freehold and fee simple acreage with beachfront in the country’s tourism zone.
“Overlooking Vatumatau Bay, Matana provides endless views that stretch out to South Beach,” Concierge noted.
“From July to October, dolphins, turtles, and humpback whales travel through the waters, offering great opportunity to observe their migration patterns. Additionally, over 162 species of birds; dozens of species of butterfly and geckos; and 360 degrees of hardwood trees such as mangrove, palm, and bamboo reside on the property,” Concierge noted.
Matana was previously listed for $18.995 million and according to Concierge, will sell Without Reserve in cooperation with Clinton Selfridge of Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty.
Selfridge noted the extremely rare opportunity being presented at Matana to own hundreds of untouched acres in Fiji, where over 91 per cent of land comes under indigenous ownership, and hence, leaving a very small percentage of State land and even smaller amount of beachfront, Freehold that foreigners can acquire.
“The land is historic, serene, lush, and peaceful. It also lends itself to multiple uses, which is why it’s exciting to know the auction process will garner attention globally, in order to find that one right buyer. This is an amazing and unique chance to own fee simple land in Fiji — buyers take note!”
At Vanua Levu, the private retreat of Navodo has been described as a labour of love fringing an entire bay and boasting duo ocean frontage.
“Seemingly pulled from a Hollywood movie, this magical and completely self-sustaining compound is set on 150 stunning, freehold acres of sugar-sand beach frontage abutting a lush, uniquely Fijian landscape.”
Navodo’s façade include the popular dive sites of Rainbow Reef and Great White Wall. It was listed for tender last year by realtors, Bayleys, with a published reserve of FJD $8.8 million plus VAT (if any).
For Concierge, though its June auction primarily targets the elite Chinese consumer market- where an association of island owners has even been formed- it is also open to non-Chinese bidders who can participate via its mobile bidding app.
Concierge President, Laura Brady said the influx of Chinese buyers, coupled with the global adoption of its bidding application in 2016, made its outreach to China a definite next step.
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