GREAT Business Investments
In an effort to maintain the Gulf Regional Economic Aboriginal Trust’s (GREAT) ability to help communities grow through economic development/participation; we seek innovative and entrepreneurial ways to generate revenue. GREAT has made and will continue to make more business investments to maintain sustainability and its status as a true social enterprise one which is independent of any financial contributions made by the Century Mine, government or any other funding source. To be clear…we make our own money.
GREAT maintains a balance sheet nearing 30 million dollars with NO debt!
Download "Economic Development in Action" - GREAT is having huge economic development success and will continue to succeed as a social enterprise (for purpose, not profit).
Economic Development in Action - 1531 KB PDF file
GREAT walk their talk with a $30m (self funded) balance sheet and no debt.
Club 8 Casino
Every day thousands of Australians are targeted by illegal overseas gambling companies. There is no regulation of the industry. To date, governments’ response to this is to play “whack-a-mole” – hit them on the head as they become known, but there are thousands of them and just as soon as one is closed, another one emerges (taking over 2 billion dollars from vulnerable Australians every year). These online scammers are destroying lives and they have a devastating impact on communities throughout Australia.
Further, a lot of the issues we see in the communities are a consequence of poor economic conditions and a lack of independence.
Tried and tested GREAT has taken an extensive look at the casino system in place with the Indians in America and their growth to try and create a solution to both problems here in Australia.
Regulating the online gambling industry with a license would help to curb online illegal gambling websites and build communities with economic independence. To a point (like in America) where relying on gambling profit is no longer needed in a lot of cases. And, as shown in America where the system is utilised, the rate of gambling has decreased in the process.
It is envisaged that GREATs proposed / or any gaming license would be limited to social enterprises / charitable organisations within Australia and exclude commercial gaming companies like Crown or similar.
It would also keep more than $2b of lost money in Australia every year, which would help to create backbone community enriching projects - the mum & dad businesses, offering the sovereignty and self-respect that is needed as a foundation for any thriving community.
While this can be a hard concept to grasp, sometimes it takes out-of-the-box thinking to create real solutions, rather than continuing to hit a brick wall with unsuccessful tactics.
For more than 25 years, the American Indian casino system has increased Tribal independence, created businesses and economic stability (separate to the casinos), reduced smoking and alcohol dependency, boosted school attendance, increased tourism, the list goes on.
As part of a collaboration of Queensland RSL Clubs and GREAT (Caboolture RSL, Caloundra RSL, Currumbin RSL, Greenbank RSL, Logan Diggers and RSL Club Southport), the Club 8 Casino concept was created as part of a process to lobby the State and Federal governments to grant Queensland and Australia’s first legal online gambling license and (hopefully) path the way to an Australia wide solution.
The Club 8 Casino free play website was a tangible example of what the online site would look like and could be used to transition from “free play” to fiat or “real money” once an approval was granted. Below is a screenshot of the website which can be viewed at www.club8casino.com.au
Ancient Journeys Aboriginal Arts, Gifts and Tours
53- 57 Esplanade, Cairns City. GREAT invested over $1.2 million purchasing and re-fitting a shop and office. The premises fronts the Cairns Esplanade and is unusually large for an esplanade location at 172 square metres plus there is a 32 square metre courtyard that backs onto the old Courthouse Hotel which the Cairns Regional Council is redeveloping as part of the arts precinct. So, the shop will effectively have 2 entry points for customers and be a part of the Cairns art precinct.
In addition to it being a high-profile position it also affords a space for GREAT’s office.
The shop works closely with BYNOE Arts, the Doomadgee Art Box and the Aboriginal art gallery at Mirndiyan Gununa on Mornington Island.
Normanton Traders
The former Normanton Traders Grocery Store located at 29 Woodward St is closed. The existing Normanton Traders site has been repurposed as a retail warehouse/distribution hub for the entire Lower Gulf including the communities of Doomadgee, Mornington Island, Burketown, and Karumba. And cater to numerous cattle properties. The facility will also provide storage for food security.
In March 2022, construction began on a new 1000 square metre Foodworks complex incorporating the following:
- Groceries
- Meat and seafood
- Lotto
- Petrol
- Whitegoods, electronics, hardware, clothing
On the 21st of November the new Foodworks Complex opened at its new location at 59-63 Landsborough Street which is right on the main street or highway that runs through Normanton!
Daintree Discovery Centre
On August 1st 2016, the ADBT/GREAT purchased the world class Daintree Discovery Centre tourist attraction.
DAINTREE RAINFOREST – THE DAINTREE DISCOVERY CENTRE
On the 6th of June 2023 the Daintree Discovery Centre opened a new attraction. The Hologram Theatre featuring local Indigenous guide Mr Jaun Walker. The attraction is the first permanent hologram display in the world!
The Daintree Discovery Centre, an award-winning world class interpretive facility that allows visitors easy access to every level of the Daintree Rainforest; from the forest floor to the upper most reaches of the canopy. Established in 1989 the centre is widely recognised as a leader in the field of ecotourism, and in particular, environmental conservation. It provides an excellent introduction to the wonders of the Daintree Rainforest.
The Daintree Discovery Centre is located in the heart of the Daintree rainforest, an easy 2-hour drive north of Cairns along one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world. The Daintree Discovery Centre is the #1 Attraction in the Daintree Rainforest. To view the Centre’s interactive map for a closer look at the attractions available go to the website www.discoverthedaintree.com. The centre also provides an audio Daintree Rainforest tour included as part of the entry fee! They have so many natural wonders on display.
The Daintree Discovery Centre is a multi-faceted venue featuring:
- Our Famous 23m Daintree Canopy Tower
- The 10m High Aerial Walkway
- Over 900m of Elevated Rainforest Boardwalks
- Interpretive Display Centre
- Beautiful Native Reptile and Fish Displays
- Audio Visual Theatres
- Self-Guided Audio Tours Included
- Take Home Colour Guide Book Included
- Optional Guided Group Tours
- Coffee Shop & Souvenir Shop
Cnr Cape Tribulation Rd & Tulip Oak Rd
Cow Bay, Queensland, 4873
Australia
Phone/Fax: (+61) -7- 4098-9171 Email: info@discoverthedaintree.com
The Discovery Centre is open every day (except Christmas Day) from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Entry fee applies (concessions available).
Doomadgee Accommodation
13 accommodation units. Air-conditioned self-contained units located in the secure compound of the Doomadgee Roadhouse. One-bedroom kitchenettes with ensuite. Each unit has
- Microwave
- Bar fridge
- A kitchenette with all cooking and eating utensils
- 32-inch wall mounted TV with satellite connection
- Ironing board and iron
- Wi-Fi internet access
- Meals are available
- Separate laundry with washing machines and dryers (tokens sold through the roadhouse)
Make Doomadgee your base for…
- Fishing along the beautiful Nicholson River
- A day trip to Hell’s Gate
- Seeing the wonder of Burketown’s Morning Glory
- Flying to Mornington Island to fish
- Cooling off at Lawn Hill
- An adventure to Adel’s Grove
- Enjoying the beauty of Kingfisher Camp
The roadhouse is located as you arrive into Doomadgee at Goodeedawa Rd and the corner of the Savannah Hwy
To book a room in one of our 1-bedroom kitchenettes go to www.doomadgeeroadhouse.com.au
Doomadgee 4WD Hire
The Doomadgee Roadhouse hires 4WD vehicles. There are 4 x Nissan X-Trail Four-wheel drive vehicles available.
To book one of our 4WDs go to www.doomadgeeroadhouse.com.au
Doomadgee Roadhouse
The Doomadgee Roadhouse is 100% Aboriginal owned and is one of the most successful examples of an Indigenous owned business in a remote area that benefits Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. It illustrates what can be achieved in an indigenous community with the right partnerships, financial resourcing, good management and corporate governance.
The Doomadgee Roadhouse concept was the result of collaboration between the Aboriginal Development Benefit Trust (ADBT) and the Doomadgee Shire Council. The Doomadgee Council approached ADBT because, at the time, the Doomadgee Store was apprehensive about making any further investment in the re-fit of its existing petrol/fuel infrastructure as it was due for replacement.
The ADBT invested $1.5 million to establish the Doomadgee Roadhouse. The Doomadgee Shire Council contributed $300,000 for fuel infrastructure.
The Roadhouse was completed and opened in November 2006. The ADBT is the owner of the roadhouse, with onsite managers responsible for day-to-day operations. It employs up to 14 staff, 12 are Aboriginal (86% are Aboriginal).
Effectively, all of our customers are our stakeholders because all profits are reinvested in the business to better serve the community.
Doomadgee Roadhouse provides fuel and petrol. The roadhouse also retails food and drink items, bait, frozen meats, automotive, 4WD hire and hot food. There is an ATM.
Goodeedawa Rd (cnr Savannah Hwy)
Doomadgee QLD 4830
(07) 4745 8298
