Dougies Backpackers gets new life and management as Gurner development delays

TRANSITION AHEAD

Jamie Jansen

Journalist

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Heather and Steve Yarr (front left) welcome Dan Tiffin as the new manager. Photo: Dougies Backpackers Resort.

Over a year ago, Newsport reported that Dougies Backpackers Resort would close in December 2024 to make way for the planned Gurner Development. As this deadline nears, many in the Port Douglas community have been preparing for the end of an era. However, recent updates have revealed an unexpected twist, offering Dougies a new lease on life, literally.

Newsport recently sat down with Steve Yarr, manager and former owner of Dougies, who shared the journey leading up to this pivotal moment.

In July 2022, after owning Dougies for a solid 24 years, Steve and Heather Yarr, who had dedicated over two decades to building and running the resort, were motivated by a desire to reduce their workload and spend more time with their children

Dean Laidlaw, owner of Pandanus Caravan Park next door, entered as a buyer, purchasing Dougies and offering Steve and Heather a 12-month leaseback under their management.

However, in mid-2023, the situation changed when Mr Laidlaw entered a joint venture for property development.

“While initially unsettling, we were reassured that the development wouldn’t commence until 2025, and we were offered a further year lease until December 2024,” Mr Yarr explained.

“We accepted, as it allowed Dougies the opportunity to continue supporting the local tourism and hospitality industry in Port Douglas by providing a welcoming and safe home for many of the town’s international visitors who work in the industry,” he added.

Just as the countdown to closure seemed inevitable, an unexpected delay in the development timeline offered a glimmer of hope. The Gurner Development has been pushed back by two years, allowing Dougies to remain open longer than anticipated. 

However, with this extension came another significant change; the transition to new management.

Mr Yarr explained that after years of dedication, both he and Heather are now ready to step back from Dougies and prioritise free time with family.

“We were provided the opportunity to find a new operator to take Dougies forward and are pleased to announce that Dan Tiffin, a local resident with deep ties to the community, will take over the reins of Dougies starting December 1, 2024,” Mr Yarr announced.

Mr Tiffin, who has lived in Port Douglas for eight years, is well-known for his work in the local hospitality scene. He established his own business, Craft Distributors, a boutique liquor distributor, and has been involved with Hemingway's Brewery and the Port Douglas United soccer club. 

“Dan brings to Dougies all of the many attributes that are required for Dougies to continue operating and supporting the local community,” Mr Yarr said. 

“He is young, enthusiastic, and driven to succeed, with the right attitude of care towards guests and is an all-round nice person.”

As Dougies enters this new chapter, the Yarrs are confident that the resort will continue to thrive under Dan’s leadership. The extension of Dougies’ operations is not just a reprieve for the business, but a continued opportunity for it to support the vibrant local tourism industry and take the Dougies legacy forward.

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