Christopher Skase: Douglas Shire to preserve famous palm-lined entrance

Former high-flying entrepreneur-turned-fraudster Christopher Skase’s vision for this tropical seaside gem continues following a landmark move.

A FAR North council will act to protect the iconic palm-lined entrance road to Port Douglas built by the late Christopher Skase estimated to be worth an eye-watering $9 million to the seaside town.

The “avenue of palms” was famously planted by the high-flying Australian entrepreneur-turned-fraudster at his own expense before the launch of the Sheraton Mirage Resort in 1988, helping to catapult the sleepy village into a global tourism destination.

The entire length of Port Douglas Road is dotted with majestic North African oil palms – sourced from his own former plantation just south of the Daintree Rainforest – and have become synonymous with the “island alure” of the holiday gem.

Australian businessman Christopher Skase outside the Sheraton Mirage Resort Port Douglas that he built on Four Mile Beach in the late 1980s.

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Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said their preservation was an important part of his council’s latest operational strategy for the area.

“The avenue of palms is iconic and renowned all over the world,” he said.

“When Skase planted them he helped put us on the map as a global player and they have that arrival statement to this day.

“People know they have arrived in Port Douglas when they hit those palm trees and Council needs to have a strategy in play to make sure they stay with us.”

A council audit of all 608 remaining trees found a small number were suffering, but plans needed to be drawn up to replace them over the next 40 years.

The North African oil palms dotted along the entrance to Port Douglas have become a signature of the popular seaside haven. Picture: Supplied.

Mayor Kerr said replacing them with natives was “not an option”.

“We need to review options for the long term replacement and maintenance of these oil palms, which have become an absolute asset to our tourist town over the past decades,” he said.

“Many visitors love Port Douglas for its beautiful beach, amazing bars and restaurants, and relaxed atmosphere, but looking at the iconic avenue of trees is often the first and last experience on their holiday so we need to have a plan in place to protect it.”

It comes as council committed to 47 initiatives across five strategic areas in its 2021-22 Operational Plan.

A business case for an RV Park in Mossman and works on a proposed Port Douglas Aquatic Precinct were other highlights.

Originally published as Christopher Skase: Douglas Shire to preserve famous palm-lined entrance