Henry the cockatoo: Beloved Queensland tourism icon dies at age 54 following cancer battle

Tributes are flowing for the world-famous icon, who owns a bizarre accolade.

The world-famous Gold Coast cockatoo, who became the only bird to win a major Queensland tourism prize, has died.

Henry the cockatoo died last week in Cairns at the age of 54 from pancreatic cancer.

His owner, long-time Gold Coast resident Davvyd Brown, has paid tribute to the bird, which was a well-known figure from the 1970s to the 2000s and entertained everyone from prime ministers to princes.

“I’m heartbroken, I have lost my friend of 50 years,” he said.

“I have tears in my eyes, old Henry has finally fallen of his perch.

Davvyd Brown and Henry in 2004 Picture: Donna Cosford

“Henry was so loved by the Gold Coast and was known to all the kids, who have all grown up by now, but he was just wonderful.”

Henry spent his last years living at a wildlife park in Cairns after both he and Mr Brown had relocated to north Queensland in the mid-2000s.

While best-known for his antics in the 1980s and 1990s, Henry’s story began in 1971 when he met Mr Brown at Davvyd’s, a popular Surfers Paradise restaurant on Laycock St.

Henry the Cockatoo with Ronnie Corbett

“Henry originally belonged to a girl who worked at my restaurant and while I ended up sacking her, she left Henry behind and it became the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” Mr Brown said.

The bird, who was often call a “cockathree”, because it was a better than being a simple cockatoo, is understood to have hatched around 1970.

Through the 1970s and 1980s he and Mr Brown were well-known figures on the tourism scene, performing in venues across the city including the Shangri-la showboat which cruised around the Broadwater.

Henry the Cockatoo with Formula One world champion Mario Andretti

Henry was already a renowned figure by the mid-1980s when he became the first, and only, bird to be given a major state tourism gong – securing the Whitsunday Award of Excellence “because of his vital role in tourism promotion in that part of the world”.

Henry, also dubbed “the superstar” and “the wonderbird”, was selected along with Mr Brown to perform at Expo 88 in Brisbane, meeting Prince Andrew and his then-wife Sarah ‘Fergie’ Ferguson.

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard with Davvyd Brow and Henry Cockathree and Nancy Cockatwo and a half.

It was reported in April 1988 that Henry was undergoing an intensive six-week program to learn how to greet the Duchess of York with “Howya going Fergie?”

“Among his repertoire is an imitation of an eagle, tongue poking and, in line with his growing star status, autograph signing,” it was reported at the time.

Mr Brown fondly remembered the event.

“We were at Expo for six months and we had 100,000 people a day going through there to get their photographs and were voted the most popular roving entertainers, it was absolutely wonderful,” he said.

Henry the Cockatoo with Ita Buttrose

“I think Henry and I together took more than one million photos in the more than 50 years I had him.”

Henry and Mr Brown, who became known as “the Surfers Birdman”, were frequently sights at Queensland events through the 1990s, including Indy.

In 1994 the Gold Coast City Council voted to name Henry the city’s honorary mascot.

The pair also met and entertained George Clooney and Elle McPherson when they visited the Gold Coast in 1997 for the premier of Batman and Robin.

Henry the Cockatoo with Alicia Silverstone

He also infamously once got bored and flew around Shute Harbour near Airlie Beach where he let the air out of the tyres of 26 cars.

The bird was later apprehended by police who let him off.

Henry also became a TV star, appearing in ads for Powers beer and the RSCPA as well as George of the Jungle II.

In 2004 the pair were nominated for the Bulletin’s Gold Coast Honours awards.

Henry the cockatoo, pictured with owner and friend Davvyd Brown at Pacific Fair. Picture: Supplied by Davvyd Brown

Mayor Tom Tate on Tuesday paid tribute to Henry and suggested a permanent memorial be installed at the Home of the Arts.

“I had fond memories of Henry and one thing about him was that his colour character always shone through,” he said.

“He was one of our first quintessential ambassador for our city and we should do something to honour him like a colourful statue to reflect on him at HOTA.”

Originally published as Henry the cockatoo: Beloved Queensland tourism icon dies at age 54 following cancer battle