Businessman Kerry Manolas remembered as a Darwin property pioneer

The man who spearheaded development of one of Darwin’s most successful commercial properties is being remembered for his innovation and foresight.

Kerry Manolas (left) on the rooftop of the Sheraton Darwin in 1986. Mr Manolas sadly died aged 84 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Picture: Supplied/Manolas family

One of Darwin’s earliest property pioneers is being remembered for his foresight, generosity and innovation following his death.

Kerry Manolas died aged 84 in late September after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

An astute businessman, Mr Manolas developed one of the Territory’s most successful commercial properties, Casuarina Square (known then as Casuarina Shopping Square) and Darwin’s first international hotel.

He left a long-lasting legacy in the NT which his family shared with the NT News.

Mr Manolas was born in Perth in 1938 and moved to Darwin a year later, where he grew up with his siblings in the “Hollywood Flats” on Mitchell St.

He studied pharmacy and opened his first chemist in 1963, Kerry Manolas Night & Day, on Mitchell St.

Mr Manolas with former chief minister Paul Everingham.

Mr Manolas was celebrated for his generosity and innovation.

“Kerry was known to have a bed out the back of his pharmacy and he would often sleep there overnight and be ready to open up for his first customers of the day,” the family said.

Across the next decade he opened more pharmacies in Darwin CBD, Jabiru, Palmerston, Groote Eylandt, Gove and at Casuarina.

An eager entrepreneur, Mr Manolas also dabbled in supermarkets, photo processing, cattle stations and agriculture.

Mr Manolas and his father used their earnings from the pharmacies to buy properties in an around Darwin.

“(They) showed great foresight in acquiring the vacant land upon which Kerry was later to develop Casuarina Shopping Square, which was then considered to be many years ahead of its time,” the family said.

“His business acumen was well proven in the ensuing years as Casuarina Shopping Square became the most successful commercial development in Darwin.”

Another feather in Mr Manolas’ cap came in 1986 when he spearheaded the development of Darwin’s first international hotel, working hard to secure $43m in funding.

“Kerry, with his father George, was a true pioneer, in that he always believed in the future of Darwin,” the family said.

“One of Kerry and his father’s greatest dreams was to build a major hotel on the family’s Mitchell St property.

Kerry Manolas died in September. Picture: Supplied/Manolas family

“In the pioneering spirit of Kerry, he was again ahead of his time and his dream was eventually fulfilled in 1986 when Darwin’s first international hotel, the Sheraton Darwin, was opened.”

The hotel has since become the Hilton Darwin.

Aside from his business ventures, Mr Manolas was known for his involvement in the local community.

“(He) was known as being a very generous person who assisted many members of the community with financial support to purchase their homes and businesses,” the family said.

“Indeed Kerry’s house on East Point Rd was one of the few still standing after Cyclone Tracy and he opened his doors to anyone who needed a roof over their head.

“Kerry was also heavily involved in Darwin’s Greek community throughout the 1960s and 1970s, eventually being appointed in 1975 by the President of Greece as Honorary Consul of Greece in Darwin.”

Mr Manolas moved to Sydney in 1980 but remained active in commercial real estate in Darwin until his death.