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history.

Christopher and Pixie Skase

Third, local developer John Morris had already drawn up detailed plans for an was a sleepy town into a luxury playground for the rich and famous; a symbol
elaborate beachside resort. Skase teamed up with Morris and incorporated his of 1980s extravagance, putting Port Douglas on the map as a premier tourist
signature ‘nothing taller than a palm tree’ design vision that set the bar for all destination.
subsequent development in Port Douglas.
While the ambitious project was cautiously welcomed as a windfall for local “The resort was an instant success and is widely credited with transforming
businesses, there was also opposition — as there still is to large-scale development what was a sleepy town into a luxury playground for the rich and famous; a
today — over the risks to the mangroves, the rare native flora and fauna, and the
general laidback vibe of the town. Skase ignored these concerns, as he did the fact symbol of 1980s extravagance, putting Port Douglas on the map as a premier
that Jabukanji (Port Douglas) was a significant ceremonial site for Cape York tourist destination.”
First Nations people. Bama elders were at no time consulted on the design or
construction of the resort. (Because of this, the elders were unsurprised by his —
spoiler alert — untimely demise.)
In September 1988, Mirage played host to Skase’s elaborate 40th birthday bash.
Described as one of the biggest ‘who’s who’ events in Australia to date, Skase flew
PARTIES AND PALM TREES in his favourite Hollywood A-listers, sporting heroes and a handful of journalists
Having jumped and kicked over any remaining hurdles, Skase’s developers set to record his success. John Farnham famously performed his latest hit, A Touch
to work. of Paradise, and Pixie sent the couple’s private jet to Melbourne to pick up a dress.
The Mirage Resort began to take its spectacular shape, with its signature pink And then, all of a sudden, the party, for Skase at least, was over. In 1989, the
façade and interiors overseen by Pixie. National Companies and Securities Commission launched an inquiry into
Set on 147 hectares with direct access to Four Mile Beach, almost 300 rooms, Qintex, discovering that the company was tens of millions of dollars in debt, and
suites and villas, complete with adjoining country club, were set among two that Skase had been using company funds as his own personal bank account.
hectares of swimmable (filtered) saltwater lagoons, landscaped tropical gardens, Skase, it seems, had seen the writing on the wall, funnelling enough money
and an 18-hole golf course. And those famous palm trees greeted guests on overseas to fund a decent, if not lavish, hasty retirement. His former bodyguard
arrival. told the ABC that he had been sent in to clear out the penthouse at the Mirage,
moving cars, furniture, jewellery and clothes into a container bound for Europe.
The Mirage Port Douglas opened its doors in late 1987, closely followed by the
launch of the Marina Mirage on Wharf Street, where boutiques and booking The Skases spent one last Christmas under the Australian sun, and followed suit.
offices were designed to service the cruising and sailing wants of Mirage guests.
The resort was an instant success and is widely credited with transforming what

PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 39