Big Pineapple owners vow to return icon to former glory

It’s been bogged in a bitter legal drama, but the future is looking sweet for a Queensland tourism icon after a breakthrough settlement deal. Find out what’s coming.

The future of one of Queensland’s biggest tourism icons is looking sweet after the end of a long-running ownership battle.

The Sunshine Coast’s Big Pineapple has been weighed down by a bitter legal battle between co-owners CMC Property and the Randall stable of businesses, but the dispute has been settled and it’s now “game on” for an ambitious agritourism masterplan for the beloved attraction.

CMC Property is now the sole owner of the property, with boss Peter Kendall telling The Sunday Mail he planned to restore the site to its former glory.

Celebrating its 50th birthday in 2021, the heritage-listed structure is a legacy of a bygone era in tourism when bigger was undoubtedly better.

Sunshine & Sons brand manager Jack O’Neill at the Big Pineapple on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Lachie Millard

Mr Kendall declined to detail specifics of his redevelopment plan, but the site already has a masterplan for a number of agritourism development opportunities including food production and food-based tourism operations, an interpretative centre, food market dining offerings as well as scope for future holiday parks, hotels or eco-resorts.

“We’re disappointed that it has taken three years to get to this point, but now that we have, it’s all eyes ahead to the future,” he said.

“We’re very conscious of the general public’s love and affection for the site and the council’s wants and needs.

“I know it’s an overused phrase, but we really want to restore the Big Pineapple to its former glory.

“It’s pretty exciting times ahead.”

Sunshine & Sons founder Matt Hobson at the Big Pineapple on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Lachie Millard

A tourist magnet attracting millions of visitors through the 1970s and 80s, the Big Pineapple’s popularity waned after the arrival of a new era of attractions like theme parks and mega zoos and by 2010 it had closed down.

New owners moved in but the partnership between CMC Property, Rankin Investments and Rankin Super soured in recent years, despite the arrival of a number of businesses to the site including Wildlife HQ, Treetop Challenge and award-winning Cavu Distilling, which produces the Sunshine & Sons label.

The site also hosted the popular Big Pineapple Music Festival which attracted some of the country’s top acts.

Yandell Davis and Pete Fenech stop by for a selfie at the Big Pineapple on their way for a surf at Mooloolaba. Picture: Lachie Millard

A proposal to offload the site to developers was scuttled after Mr Kendall said the property was not for sale and relations between the co-owners soured until last week’s breakthrough settlement.

But it has always retained a pride of place in the hearts of Queenslanders, with a bid even launched to make the attraction the official mascot of the 2032 Olympics.

Sunshine & Sons distillery founder Matt Hobson said he was proud to be linked to the Big Pineapple, with the group making a pineapple parfait gin in tribute to the tourist icon.

“It’s so well-known by Queenslanders and people all over Australia really,” he said.

“There’s an incredible number of people who have visited the site over the years and have fond memories of the place.

“It’s exciting that things have progressed (with the ownership dramas) and we’re excited about what lies ahead.”

Brad Rankin of Rankin Investments declined to comment when contacted by The Sunday Mail.