As the town he helped put on the map almost 50 years ago prepares for another property boom, 93-year-old Port Douglas developer and former Rich Lister John Morris is excited to be embarking on his latest project – a $50 million development of ultra-luxury villas.

More than anyone else – even Christopher Skase, who arrived in Port Douglas after him – Mr Morris is credited with turning what was a sleepy fishing village with a pot-holed main road and two pubs into one of Australia’s most desirable places to live and play through developments including the Radisson Treetops resort, the Toressian Resort (now called Reef Resort Villas), Cayman Villas, Wetherby Station, Crystalbrook Station and the Wildlife Habitat,