The head of Australia’s Colonial Leisure Group, Chris Morris recently revealed details about his plan to breathe new life into the Jupiters Townsville casino. Located on the picturesque Townsville breakwater, Jupiters Townsville overlooks Cape Cleveland, Magnetic Island, the Coral Sea, the Breakwater Marina, and the bustling central business district of Townsville. It is also less than 10 minutes away from the Museum of Tropical Queensland, the Reef HQ Aquarium, and Townsville’s beautiful public beachfront, The Strand.
Despite its outstanding location, the Townsville casino struggled to turn a profit under the direction of its previous owner, the Echo Entertainment Group. Chris Morris sites the casino’s outdated architectural design as a primary cause of its financial troubles. He also points out that Jupiters Townsville had very little to offer vacationers outside of its 350 poker machines and 50 gaming tables. “The only reason people were going there was to gamble,” said Morris in a recent interview with the Australian Financial Review. “The food and beverage offering…was very average.”
To encourage additional spending, Morris is devoting a minimum of $20 million to renovate the basic design of the resort and build a number of new restaurants and bars. He expects to make a profit on his investment within the next four years.
Morris entered into an agreement to purchase the Jupiters Townsville casino for $70 million in January of 2014. The deal was settled in late October after probity clearance was received.
Industry insiders are anxious to see exactly what Morris does with his new acquisition. With 14 hotels and restaurants throughout Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia, he has already established Colonial Leisure Group as a leader in the Australian hospitality industry. Colonial Leisure Group’s other assets range from Orpheus Island to the Great Barrier Reef’s Daintree Eco Lodge and Spa.
