ABC Rewind 02 | Building a Mirage
Sep 26, 2025
The lavish life of Christopher and Pixie Skase comes to life as they build luxurious Mirage resorts and throw extravagant parties in the 1980s. Pixie's over-the-top style and their corporate tactics spotlight a world where business theater meets celebrity culture. Yet, as debts pile up and skepticism grows, their dazzling facade begins to crack. From political maneuvering to environmental concerns, and a risky football team purchase, the rise and fall of their opulent dreams reveals the fragility behind their success.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Vision On A Muddy Beach
- Christopher Skase first sketched a luxury resort on Four Mile Beach after seeing Port Douglas in 1969.
- Early marketing used Hawaiian photos to hide the beach's mud and sell the mirage.
Versace-Style Corporate Headquarters
- Pixie Skase oversaw extravagant design at Quintex HQ with blue marble and a waterfall lobby.
- They even fit luxury details into their corporate jet before realising marble floors don't suit planes.
Bromley: Parties And Pageantry
- Bromley, the Skases' mansion, included a gym, cinema and life-sized Laurel and Hardy mannequins.
- The home became famous for champagne-flowing parties and a million shredded dollars in a glass dome.
