Page 33 - Port Douglas Magazine 29

Tony drinks to the win of his racehorse, Celebrating a birthday with
Mr. O’Ceirin, at the 100th running of the Grafton Cup friends and family

“We need to provide a future by providing affordable land for our

young people and tourism workers - they are the town’s future.”

So by December 1986 the move to Port Douglas was completed. The speed “Vying with the main street created overload and couldn’t be sustained. That
of the McGraths move took even Tony’s wife Greer by surprise. She said, “I advice proved to absolutely correct. I’m sure this advice will be taken into
thought we were going to talk about this for a week before the comp and then consideration by Crystalbrook when they develop the new Marina. They are
decide what we would do.” Tony made it clear that when her ultimatum was good operators,” he said.
issued, he had decided that he would agree and in his usual style he followed “The local Council must help here. Development for the area is essential.
his instincts and they took him in exactly the right direction. So he issued his There is no room for anti-development. We need to provide a future by
own ultimatum and the McGraths sold their home and within six weeks had providing affordable land for our young people and tourism workers - they are
moved to Port Douglas. the town’s future. We are all green. We wouldn’t live here if we weren’t green.
The real estate market ran hot with so many people from down south, But there is a limit to the way green controls things and we are way past that
particularly Melbourne, buying heavily in Port Douglas because it was being point! So development has to be generated carefully, controlled carefully but
promoted as the Noosa of tomorrow. Development was generated by legends generated it must be. There are a lot of things that need to happen and they
of Port Douglas like Christopher Skase, John Morris and Michelle Piat. And are not. We need to get a ‘balance of progress’,” he said.
even problems like the pilots’ strike and rogue developers could not completely Tony is careful with his health having had a couple of scares with his heart
destroy the progress of Port Douglas. The effects of the strike were felt for resulting in a successful heart bypass operation but he has no retirement plans.
almost eight years and it hurt badly but Port Douglas has a charisma that He doesn’t see any reason to slow down though he did admit that he doesn’t
man-made problems cannot deter. And by the 2000s activity was again at a drink cheap wine anymore. Learning about good wines has become another
very healthy level and even though by 2005/6 the GFC bubble was beginning passion and he is sure that it’s better for his health and wellbeing!
to burst there was still some business from late arrivers. Over and above his business activities, he has always enjoyed his horses.
Tony has always been a successful operator and confirms that during his career Right through his career he has owned race horses. He has held various
he has been involved in over half a billion dollars worth of real estate across management and stewardship positions in the racing game and has lost none
the Douglas Shire. He believes that if you do your job right then the money of his passion for the Sport of Kings. His office is littered with trophies and
follows. He has never focused on or worried about commission. His rule plaques displaying his racing success through the years. He maintains that
was: “Always concentrate on the deal. If you don’t you’re doomed to a lot of horse racing can be useful for business. So many people have a share in a
disappointments. That’s how to deal with the stress. It’s people who make horse and so many more would like to have a share in a horse so it is an
their own stress, not the business”. opportunity to meet a lot of people and they are often looking for investment
He sold his thriving LJ Hooker Port Douglas franchise in 2004 at the peak opportunities.
of the boom but continued to work for the buyers until 2009 when he left His lust for life and his continued drive demonstrates that whatever he takes
to start up his own agency again, which he is still operating between race on both in business or leisure, he doesn’t do things by halves. If a thing is
meetings!! worth doing then it’s worth doing well.
Talking about the current market, he says the region has been through a Having spent a wonderful couple of hours with this unique individual I
couple of eras of fast profit but the truth of the matter is that real estate realised that he only operates with proficiency, enthusiasm and determination.
investment is about a seven to 10 year cycle. “It’s never been about a quick He doesn’t suffer fools and I suspect he never will. If ever an advisory board
buck. That kind of opportunism is difficult to plan but positive long term was considered for the Douglas Shire, then I would proffer an idea that the
investment has a good track record up here,” he said. Shire would find no better participant, perhaps even leader of the group, than
“Agents must work for both seller and buyer. Very often the seller doesn’t Tony McGrath. This community means so much to him that we need to
like the advice his agent gives him but you have to stick to what you believe acknowledge his experience and expertise and I’d put a bet on that!
is right. In the long run both your buyers and sellers will appreciate your
efforts”.
The new Marina development if approved will herald a great new era for
Port Douglas. Tony stressed they must be careful that they don’t fall for the
same trap in which Christopher Skase fell by building too much commercial.

PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 35