The remarkable history of Elysian, a secluded island retreat on Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef. This is an entertaining and inspiring story of conviction, commitment, and serendipity, in which - after many shattered dreams, millions of dollars, and decades of hard work by hundreds of people - an unlikely dream finally becomes reality. Building Paradise is an emotional, roller-coaster adventure full of seemingly impossible barriers and a host of interesting characters, none more so than Myrtle, an orphaned kangaroo who ruled the roost on the island for almost ten years. 'An extraordinary tale, so very beautifully told. A worthy modern successor to Bamfield's Confessions of a Beachcomber.' Tim Flannery (Australian of the year 2007)