John Williams: Dreamworld and Ettamogah Pub designer has died

Lorraine Taylor and John Williams bought a shack and planned to retired to the beach after 24 years together. But then tragedy struck.

LORRAINE Taylor and John Williams spent 24 years by each other’s side and dreamt of retiring to Mackay together and sitting on the beach.

The couple bought a shack in December and were planning to move in mid-February.

They almost made it.

Mr Williams, the man who helped design Gold Coast theme park Dreamworld and the Sunshine Coast’s Ettamogah Pub, was diagnosed with brain cancer in early January, two days after his 78th birthday, and died less than four weeks later.

He is survived by Ms Taylor, five children, five grandchildren and a great-grandson.

Ms Taylor, who will still go through with the move north, paid tribute to her partner, a “humble” man who left behind an incredible legacy.

John Williams and Lorraine Taylor. Picture: Supplied by Lorraine Taylor

“We were going to sit on the beach but it didn’t work out,” she said.

“He was very proud of his work at Dreamworld, especially the big logo and sign which gave him a smile in recent weeks when they began using it again for the park’s 40th anniversary.

“His talented hands have now stopped but his legacy will live on.”

Mr Williams’ death comes just weeks after the loss of Dreamworld founder John Longhurst who died in January following a long illness.

Born in Melbourne in 1944, Mr Williams grew up living in Prahran opposite a jam factory. He moved to the Gold Coast in 1980 to work on Dreamworld during its construction.

He was a pivotal figure in the park’s early days, creating its distinctive look, as well as the original park maps and painting signage.

John Williams, pictured putting the finishing touches on Dreamworld in 1981.

After a decade at Dreamworld, Mr Williams worked with cartoonist Ken Maynard in the late 1980s to design the famous Ettamogah Pub at Aussie World, where he met Ms Taylor.

Friends and family farewelled him last week in a moving gathering at Mudjimba Beach on the Sunshine Coast.

In tribute to the dedicated conservationist, those who attended placed shells in the ocean in lieu of releasing balloons.

Ms Taylor said she would take Mr Williams’ ashes with her to Mackay.

“I will bring him with me to Mackay and then next year his ashes will be taken to Switzerland where his son John junior lives and they will be released from the top of a 3000m mountain.”

‘Fantastic’: Tributes flow for Dreamworld designer

THE Gold Coast’s theme park community is mourning the death of a man who helped design Dreamworld.

John Williams, who was the original artist behind the Coomera theme park, has died at age 78.

His death comes just weeks after the loss of Dreamworld founder John Longhurst who died in January following a long illness.

John Williams has died Photo: Patrick Woods

Tributes are flowing for Mr Williams, who was born on 1944 and was a pivotal figure in the park’s early days.

A Dreamworld spokeswoman said: “The Dreamworld team are saddened to hear of the passing of John Williams.

“John’s contributions to many elements of Dreamworld’s design have formed an important part of the park’s history and are still celebrated today,” she said.

“We extend our deepest condolences to John’s family and friends.”

Mr Williams was hired by park founder John Longhurst in 1980 during the final phase of construction of the park and was pivotal to creating its distinctive look, as well as the original park maps and painting signage.

Tony Longhurst worked alongside Mr Williams and his father during the construction of Dreamworld and said he had fond memories of their collaboration.

“He was a fantastic artist and very creative. I remember dad would go into his office with an idea and they would let (Mr Williams) do whatever he wanted,” he said. “From maps to signage and even building designs and ride theming, I remember him coming up with sketches all the time.

Dreamworld in the 1980s. Mr Williams was responsible for much of the design.

“I’m sad to hear about his passing.”

After a decade at Dreamworld, Mr Williams worked with cartoonist Ken Maynard in the late 1980s to design the famous Ettamogah Pub at Aussie World on the Sunshine Coast as well as another at Darling Harbour in Sydney.

He later returned to the Sunshine Coast pub and redesigned it to become its modern incarnation – the Banana Bender Pub.

Mr Williams’ love of theme parks never left him and in 2016 he wrote to the Walt Disney company asking them to consider building an Australian Disneyland on the Sunshine Coast.

“I suggested that the Sunshine Coast would be a better location for Disneyland than the Gold Coast because it’s more family-oriented and it would be a great place to put a Disneyland,” Mr Williams said at the time.

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Originally published as John Williams: Dreamworld and Ettamogah Pub designer has died