Image: Amadio Wines
A South Australian wine family is expanding its long-standing connection to Kangaroo Island, with plans for a $25 million luxury accommodation development in Kingscote.
For the Amadio family, the island has been more than just a place on the map. Their connection stretches back decades, from helping establish Kangaroo Island’s commercial wine industry to exploring major tourism developments.
Now, the family behind Amadio Wines is preparing to add another chapter to its island story, with a proposed development featuring 55 self-contained apartments overlooking Kingscote and Nepean Bay.
Each apartment will measure 48 square metres, with separate bedrooms, king-sized beds and a double sofa bed in the living area. According to Caj Amadio, the accommodation is being designed to cater to both individual travellers and families visiting the island.
But the latest proposal is far from the family’s first major development ambition for Kingscote.
In the late 1980s, Caj established a small pilot vineyard at Emu Bay, backed by the Penfolds Group, to test Kangaroo Island’s potential for wine production.
The results proved encouraging, prompting a partnership with islander Michael Florance, who had already planted red grapes on his property.
Together, they produced what Caj describes as Kangaroo Island’s first commercial wine, the Florance Cabernet Merlot 1991. The wine was celebrated on the island in 1992, with then Premier Lynn Arnold in attendance.
Caj later hosted a wine grape seminar at Kingscote’s Ozone Hotel, attracting 23 islanders and helping build interest in the region’s emerging wine industry.
The family’s winemaking success has continued over the years, with Caj saying the business has earned 80 gold medals over the past decade, including recognition for its Cabernet Sauvignon at the 2024 Vienna Wine Show.
However, the family’s ambitions for the island have never been limited to wine.
In 2017, plans were put forward for an $18.1 million, 110-room hotel near the family’s Commercial Street property. The proposed development included a restaurant, conference facilities and a gym, although it did not proceed in that form.
Now, almost a decade later, the family is revisiting its accommodation ambitions amid what Caj sees as a changing tourism landscape on Kangaroo Island.
With two new SeaLink ferries expected to enter service in November 2026 and The Cliffs golf course targeting an opening in 2026, he believes the island’s growing visitor appeal will create greater demand for quality accommodation.
The new apartment development is currently expected to open in early 2028.
Yen Leow, owner of The Ellson Hotel, which is preparing to open in Kingscote, says quality accommodation plays an important role in encouraging visitors to explore more of the island.
“It’s great to have good accommodation, because it gives people more reason to stay on the island and really experience everything Kangaroo Island has to offer,” Mr Leow said.
“It’s important for local businesses to work together and encourage visitors to explore beyond Kingscote, whether that’s visiting local wineries, discovering the island’s attractions or enjoying its food and hospitality. The more reasons people have to stay, the more opportunities there are for the whole island to benefit from tourism.”
For the Amadio family, the proposed $25 million development represents another step in a connection with Kangaroo Island that began decades ago.
And for Kingscote, the project could bring another accommodation option to the town, helping support the island’s tourism industry and the businesses that depend on visitors.
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