Arthur Coghlan: Famed magician and escape artist dies at age 93

The famous magician and escapologist who put the magic into Gold Coast theme park Magic Mountain has died. HIS INCREDIBLE STORY

Arthur Coghlan 1932-2025. Photo Kevin Farmer / The Chronicle

Arthur Coghlan was the man who put the magic into Magic Mountain.

The internationally renowned magician and escape artist died on Tuesday just a week after celebrating his 93rd birthday.

Mr Coghlan was a legendary figure in the entertainment field for his many decades on stage and daring escape acts.

He leaves behind a legacy, including the creation of the Magic Mountain theme park at Nobby Beach, which became an icon of the Gold Coast from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Magic Mountain on the Gold Coast.

Inspired by a Gold Coast Bulletin article about the development of Miami Hill, he met with developer George Carrett in early 1976 and the pair formed a partnership, leading to the creation of the castle on the hilltop.

“It was a wonderful opportunity which allowed us to grow from a small act into the largest illusion show in Australia at the time,’’ Mr Coghlan told the Bulletin in 2013.

Arthur Coghlan as a young magician.

During its first year of operation the park’s magic show was hosted in the castle before a boom in attendance figures prompted the construction of a 500-seat theatre.

It was home to the show for nine years and 6500 shows before closing in 1985 to make way for other attractions.

Mr Coghlan had fond memories of performing at the theme park alongside its mascot, Raymondo Rabbit.

“Working Raymondo was just great, he was a really wonderful character,” the 89-year-old said in 2022.

“The kids loved him, especially when he was on stage and a lot of people had their photos taken with him.”

In 1979 he appeared on the Don Lane Show and performed a daring escape from a box suspended by a crane.

Magician Arthur Coghlan and his daughter Helen.

“They wanted something special and locked me in a 44-gallon drum on live television before putting me in a box which was lifted by a crane to 100 feet above ground,’’ he said in a 2009 interview.

“My aim was to escape from the drum and box before reaching the limit, which would have triggered the box to drop open.

“It was so popular I was called back for an encore the next week, which became their highest-rating program for the year.’’

Arthur Coghlan in 2012 while planning a water escape from the depths Sydney Harbour.

Mr Coghlan’s first foray into the world of performance came by accident when he helped create an illusion show while working as a mechanic.

The owner of the show was concerned it would not be successful and urged Mr Coghlan to work on it. The man then died in a car accident, and determined to fulfil the promise, a new magician was born.

Then-Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow in a guillotine with famed magician Arthur Coghlan in 2015. Picture: Richard Gosling

Mr Coghlan is survived by his beloved wife Valma; children Lynette, Jeffrey and Helen; grandchildren Missy, Thomas, Michael, Maddison, Daniel, and William; great-grandchildren Martin, Alex, Logan, Archer, Jada, and Fraser; and sister Doreen.

Originally published as Arthur Coghlan: Famed magician and escape artist dies at age 93