Quinn laughs off multiple rich list errors, mansion sells at a loss, Walkers reminisce on backpackers, more Gold Coast business gossip
Tony Quinn took a volley of gaffes in a nationwide rich list with his typical good humour this week. Plus a mansion sells cheaper now than in 2009 and more Coast business gossip
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TONY Quinn took a volley of gaffes in a nationwide rich list with his typical good humour this week.
In case you missed it, the Financial Review wrongly included he and ex-wife Christina on its list despite them and their assets being split three years ago.
We’re not sure where they got their information — it wasn’t from public records as their official response claimed — they clearly show the assets divided.
And they didn’t get it from Mr Quinn, despite them interviewing him recently for an article in yesterday’s Rich List magazine.
Along with the blunders, published despite the editor knowing about them the day before, the magazine also ran with a photo of “Mr Quinn” — but it was the wrong guy.
Mr Quinn was characteristically unbothered.
“The Financial Review phoned me up a few months ago and asked me what tips I could give people,” Mr Quinn said when the Bulletin called.
“I gave them my thoughts and she was very good and said `that was great, excellent just what we want to hear’.
“But then last week, a guy called up and said `look, that article that we’re doing is going to appear in the paper, and I just thought I’d give you a heads-up that when we were doing pictures and stuff, we googled Tony Quinn and it came up with another guy, an Austrian guy or American guy, so they’ve put his picture in on your story, so it looks nothing like you’.
“I did ask him is it a good-looking bloke and he said no, not really’.”
Mr Quinn may be laughing, but as quiet fans of the list, we’re more than a bit disappointed its editor didn’t deign to admit, let alone correct, the multiple errors.
It kind of makes you wonder what else has slipped through the net in the 200-strong list.
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THE sale price of a sprawling six-bedroom riverfront home at Isle of Capri has been revealed.
Property records show Coral Homes founder Paul Sweeney sold 91 Gibraltar Dr at auction for $3 million in a deal which settled on May 2.
Mr Sweeney had bought the property for $3.55 million a decade earlier — which may seem like it stings but must be put into perspective.
The seller has, in the past, endured a more dramatic loss on his former marital home at Tallebudgera Valley — the Bellagio La Villa now owned by Ridong supremo and Spirit tower shareholder Riyu Li.
That palatial 10-bedroom property, believed to have cost the Sweeneys $15 million to buy and build, sold for $7.2 million in what was described as a “divorce-forced sale” in 2013.
Mr Li has separately proposed a nature-based theme park and a wellness and tourism project on the vast property.
The Sweeneys started Coral Homes on the Gold Coast in 1990 operating between Bundaberg and Sydney.
REG and Jeanette Walker, 80-year-olds who are selling up as the operators of the first Surfers Paradise backpacker resort, never let the weather get in the way of love.
Many years back a couple from the UK arrived at the Walkers’ resort, intending to marry on the beach but their plan was washed away by rain.
In stepped the Walkers as wedding organisers.
The groom got ready at the backpacker resort and the bride at a room at the casino, assisted by the Walkers’ daughter, Sharyn.
The resort’s bus was used as the bridal car, a small church was booked by Reg, and Jeanette teed up a wedding cake.
The newlyweds were taken back to the resort for a celebratory reception with other backpackers staying at the resort.
One piece of the original wedding plan remained intact — the couple spent their first married night together in a pre-booked room at the casino.
THE Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show’s run as the only game in town is set to end in October when a new entrant makes its debut.
Unified Events, the subject of the Business Profile this week (P72-73), is organising a new expo at the Balmain Corporation-owned Horizon Shores Marina at Woongoolba for October 11-13 this year.
Unified Events director Kiara Sullivan said the idea behind launching the Horizon Shores Boat Show is to fill a gap in the market left by the demise of The Gold Coast International Marine Expo at Coomera in 2017.
“We had a lot of people who were upset after that show shut down a few years ago,” she said.
Ms Sullivan stressed that the show is not competing with SCIBS, which is very much a luxury event, and is instead aimed more at the “everyday person”.
“The whole point of the Horizon Shores Boat Show at Jacobs Well is that it is more for the everyday person. It has boats for all budgets and it is family friendly.
The demographic we are targeting is middle classs. They still love looking at the superyachts...and may still go to SCIBS. But the point of our event is they can come along and actually find something that they want to buy.”
To that end at adult pass at Horizon Shores will be $15 compared to $25 at SCIBS.
Thirty per cent of the 120 exhibitor spots have been sold with some “big brands” to be announced soon, Ms Sullivan said.
THREE bright sparks from the Glitter Strip’s marketing scene have combined to form a new agency based at co-working space Cohort in Southport.
That’s appropriate given co-founder Ty Kudla’s role as president of Southport Place Collective, which aims to promote the sometimes-maligned CBD in a positive light.
The other two co-founders at KK&O are Rebecca Kent and Kat Orchard, formerly of The Pineapple Republic.
Ms Orchard was the co-founder of Pineapple PR, which was bought by McCann Worldgroup and merged with national PR agency The Red Republic in 2017.
Mr Kudla, who was previously account director at 40/40 Creative, said he sees the Coast “pumping with energy and opportunity” at the moment.
“We want to be part of that narrative,” he said.
Veteran restaurateur’s three companies in liquidation
Three companies behind well-known Gold Coast restaurants are in liquidation with hefty debts – but two of the venues have stayed open under the same ownership.
What’s next for tower as builder in administration
The developer of a luxury Gold Coast apartment project has revealed what it plans to do after the shock insolvency of its builder.