Construction starts on Tom Hedley’s new Cairns apartment complex development

Tom Hedley has called in the cranes to help with one of his biggest developments in decades – right in the heart of the Cairns CBD.

TOM Hedley has called in the cranes to help with one of his biggest developments in decades – right in the heart of the Cairns CBD.

The former plumber has started construction on a 16-unit apartment tower spread across five storeys at 51 McLeod St.

In an economic climate where development approvals often sit idle for years, if not decades, Mr Hedley is actually making a move.

He said time was ripe to get cranes in the sky – even if sourcing materials and tradespeople had become an expensive obstacle course.

Tom Hedley has called in the cranes to help with one of his biggest developments in decades. Picture: Marc McCormack

“If there was ever going to be a time, the time is now,” he said.

“We’ve had that land there for a while and the interest is really good.

“Really, there’s nothing (in the apartment sector) in Cairns that has been built for the last 10-12 years.

“The real estate industry is really good at the moment throughout the country, so why wouldn’t you go now?”

About half of the apartments were pre-sold off the plan.

The market’s steep rise means those early-bird buyers have scored a bargain.

“All of a sudden you get the expense of price increases which makes it very tough, but what do you do?” Mr Hedley said.

“We’re just going to keep going and build a really nice complex there.

“Whatever drops out at the end drops out at the end.”

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Multiple housing developments in Redlynch are also waiting in the wings but will depend on when builders become available.

“People are looking to buy,” Mr Hedley said.

“It’s tough at the moment because everyone is so busy.

“If you look at the rest of the year, I think it’s going to be the same with what everyone has on their books.

“Plus there’s a lot of government spending coming up that absorbs a lot of your tradies.”

Mr Hedley’s other interests include a suite of pubs across the Far North.

He was at the Tolga Pub on Thursday overseeing renovations, which were about 80 per cent completed.

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It will have a new bistro, children’s area and updated bar.

Mr Hedley has also conducted major recent renovations of the Carrington Hotel in Atherton and the Parkview Tavern in Gordonvale, as well as a conversion of the former Ye Olde Gordonvale pub into a hotel accommodation operation.

He said the current Covid situation was more difficult to navigate than when the country was plagued by all-out lockdowns.

“At least with lockdowns, you knew where you stood and you had some government assistance,” he said.

“Now you have people who won’t get vaccinated, and they’re all the youngies that work for you in the hospitality industry.

“Then you have people needing Covid testing – it’s just a nightmare.”

Mr Hedley is back in the development hot seat.

His empire is only a fraction of its former size – he once sold 36 hotels, 103 bottle shops and 17 other properties to Coles Myer for a clean $306 million before almost going bankrupt – but it is significant nonetheless.

The colourful figure does not like to dwell on the past but says he believes in opportunity and the Australian spirit.

“I always have a go, don’t I?” he said.

“That’s been my demeanour from when I was a young fella, to have a go.

“It’s a great country we live in where people get to have a go.”

Originally published as Construction starts on Tom Hedley’s new Cairns apartment complex development