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Liquidator appointed to firms controlled by strip club kingpin

Liquidators have been appointed to companies controlled by Surfers Paradise nightclub baron Craig Duffy who founded Hollywood Showgirls.

Liquidators have been appointed to two companies controlled by Gold Coast nightclub king Craig Duffy, the founder of the Hollywood Showgirls gentlemen’s club.

Chris Baskerville, of Jirsch Sutherland, has taken control of a firm previously known as Hollywood Showgirls, but now is registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) under its Australian Company Number (ACN) 108247418.

Hollywood Showgirls has operated on the tourist glitter strip at Surfers’ Paradise since 2004 and boasts “more Penthouse pets than anywhere in the world” who offer private lap dances and pole dancing performances seven days a week.

When contacted on Thursday Mr Duffy said the Hollywood Showgirl business remained operational and the company in liquidation was a non-trading entity.

Jirsch Sutherland said the company had entered creditors voluntary liquidation, which involved the liquidator selling equipment, stock, plant and other property to pay creditors.

The business had been greatly impacted by COVID-19 restrictions and the impact of the pandemic on tourism on the Gold Coast.

“It’s still early days and the investigations are ongoing, which the company’s director is assisting with,” Jirsch Sutherland said.

Adult clubs have struggled with social distancing requirements during Covid-19.

Craig Duffy and his son Kalvin Duffy in the Tipsy Pig bar in Surfers Paradise. Photo: Tertius Pickard.
Craig Duffy and his son Kalvin Duffy in the Tipsy Pig bar in Surfers Paradise. Photo: Tertius Pickard.

Jirsch Sutherland also has been appointed liquidator of H Capital Management, another company of which Craig Duffy is the sole director, and Gold Coast Hospitality Services, of which his 73-year-old mother Coral Saunders is the director.

ASIC records show the Hollywood Showgirls business name is now owned by a company registered in March last year called KD Assets, whose director is Mr Duffy’s 20-year-old son Kalvin.

Kalvin also is a director of a company called Club Management, which operates the Tipsy Pig bar at 19 Orchid Ave, the same address where Hollywood Showgirls is located.

Before starting his nightclub, 53-year-old Craig Duffy had a long pool and snooker career earning third-placings in 1995 and 1996 at the World Nine-Ball Championships plus multiple Australian titles.

He retired at 30 to focus on sharemarket software company Tomato Technologies, which he started with Glitter Strip nightclub boss Jamie Pickering.

Tomato, which sold software for $6000 and once listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, is where Duffy says he made his fortune. At its peak, he claims global offices, 30,000 customers, and a $180 million worth.

--With reporting by Emmaline Stigwood

Hollywood Showgirls tribute to Hugh Hefner. Picture Glenn Hampson
Hollywood Showgirls tribute to Hugh Hefner. Picture Glenn Hampson

Originally published as Liquidator appointed to firms controlled by strip club kingpin

Read related topics:Company Collapses

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/business/liquidator-appointed-to-firms-controlled-by-strip-club-kingpin/news-story/01fd1f73b1f3bab67e212c27bb1ad3cd