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Keith Williams, CMG (22 September 1929 – 19 October 2011) was an Australian entrepreneur who developed some of the best known attractions in Queensland, including Sea World, Hamilton Island and Port Hinchinbrook.
Williams was a self-made multimillionaire who began his career in the 1960s with the creation of a water skiing park in Surfers Paradise. This was followed by a raceway, Sea World, and Hamilton Island, Daydream Island and Port Hinchinbrook in the Whitsunday Islands.
Williams earned a reputation as both a visionary and a pioneer, and as the bane of environmentalists.
He was born in Brisbane on 22 September 1929. He left school aged 13 and by aged 16 had started his first business. By 19, he was making products licensed by Walt Disney in a self-built factory at Bulimba with 50 employees. By age 30 Williams was an Australian water-skiing champion and in 1963 married a former TV star and later Miss Gold Coast, Thea Williams.
References
- "Sea World founder Keith Williams dead". ABC News. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
- "Daydream Goes on the Market". AccomNews. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- Maddison, Melissa. (4 November 2011). "Memorial farewells developer Williams". ABC Premium News.
- Johnston, Jessica (20 October 2011). "Tributes flow for visionary developer". Townsville Bulletin.
- Carman, Gerry (21 October 2011). "GOD is dead: The man's developments will outlive him". The Age. Fairfax.
- "Keith Williams". Gold Coast City Libraries. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- Donnelly, Marea (22 October 2011). "A true businessman who backed himself". Daily Telegraph, Sydney. p. 108.