NT businessman John ‘Foxy’ Robinson awarded honorary doctorate from CDU

A legend of Territory hospitality and business has been honoured by CDU. Read what it was.

John 'Foxy' Robinson.

Territory businessman John ‘Foxy’ Robinson has come a long way from leaving school aged 13 to receiving an honorary doctorate from Charles Darwin University.

The tourism and construction entrepreneur will be awarded the honorary doctorate on Wednesday night along with hundreds of CDU graduates.

The award will be presented in honour of Mr Robinson’s contribution to the NT’s tourism and hospitality sectors.

Originally raised in New South Wales, he arrived in the Territory in the late 1960s where he worked in the meat industry until the 1980s, when he took a job managing Katherine swimming pool, which sparked his interest in tourism and hospitality.

John 'Foxy' Robinson will receive an honorary doctorate from CDU.

Mr Robinson entered the industry acquiring and transforming struggling businesses, including Redgum Caravan Park, Knotts Crossing Resort and Adelaide River Pub.

As well as his success with Darwin’s Palms Resort, his construction achievements include Darwin Airport Resort and Darwin Airport Inn and developing the former Wickham Point immigration detention centre and the Bladin accommodation village.

His recent ventures include building Rydges Palmerston and the Rydges Gold Coast airport hotel.

Mr Robinson said he was honoured to be recognised by CDU for his work growing the NT’s tourism and hospitality industries.

“Tourism is a very challenging business to be in,” he said. “It’s a tough gig and hard to survive. You must work hard, work to what’s around you and be able to read the movements of the industry,” he said.

“You can’t take your foot off the pedal, or you’ll get left behind. In hospitality, I was taken by the people you meet from all walks of life.”

As well as business, Mr Robinson has a history of philanthropic works including providing furniture to communities affected by 2015’s Cyclone Lam, assisting a local girl born with microphtalmia to receive a prosthetic eye, hosting the annual Biggest Morning Tea for the NT Cancer Council and supporting the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.

“My theory is if you’ve got the ability to make a dollar, never be afraid to share it with those less fortunate,” he said.

Honorary doctorates have also been awarded to businessman and conservationist Peter Christophersen, historian Peter Forrest, educator and historian Derek Pugh, cultural advocate Angelica Poulos and activist Patricia Perrule Ansell-Dodds.