His legacy remains for all to enjoy
Peter O’Reilly 1933- 2025
A TRUE legend of the region said farewell to his family and his beloved Lamington National Park this month.
Peter “Big Pete” O’Reilly, the beloved patriarch of the O’Reilly family and a pioneering icon in the Australian ecotourism industry, was 91 years-old when he died on March 5.
Born at Maleny he took over O’Reilly’s Guesthouse more than 70 years ago with his brother Vince.
Together with their wives, Karma and Lona they ran the business for the next 40 years, carefully managing its growth and development.
Big Pete’s working life was committed to introducing visitors to the wonders of Lamington National Park and he never stopped looking for innovations that would enhance that visitor experience.
This dedication was recognised when he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2001.
His ecotourism innovations were many fold and included introducing an annual weeklong special interest program for birdwatchers known as ‘Bird Week’.
- This year will mark the 48th consecutive Bird Week and will be the first without him.
- The event fostered the growth of a new tourist niche that has now become a significant international market for Australia.
- His other innovations were many and they were always warmly embraced by tourists and locals alike.
- His idea to safely get people high into the canopy to see the flowers, fruit and birdlife that couldn’t be seen from the ground saw him design a world first suspended tree top walkway in 1986.
- The Tree Top Walk was an innovation that attracted visitors from around the world, and has introduced literally millions to the world of the rainforest canopy.
- He was also behind the construction of a wheelchair accessible track to Python Rock, wholly within the National Park.
- The 1.7km track building project employed several long-term unemployed locals for nine months.
- At its opening senior government officials declared it to be the best of its kind anywhere in the state.
While Big Pete’s dreams were funded by tourism, they were inevitably underpinned by conservation and research interests.
As a result of the access provided to the rainforest and its canopy, O’Reilly’s is now an epicentre of rainforest research, with Big Pete often involved at a hands-on level.
For many years he and botanist, Dr Bill McDonald continued monitoring rainforest plots that were initiated in 1962.
Big Pete was a devoted husband to Karma, dedicated father to four sons and a daughter, and loving grandfather to their 10 children.
After the untimely passing of Karma, Big Pete married Annette Walton, gaining another two sons and their families.
Together Annette and Big Pete shared 27 years of birdwatching and travelling together – which surely kept him young.
One of Big Pete’s greatest gifts was his ability to connect with people.
His storytelling was legendary with guests gathering to hear tales of his family’s early struggles in the rainforest, the heroic Stinson rescue of 1937, and his own adventures exploring the rugged wilderness of Lamington.
His knowledge of the land, its wildlife and its history made every encounter with him unforgettable.
Big Pete’s contributions to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat were immense.
He played a pivotal role in shaping the retreat into the renowned eco-destination it is today, always championing sustainable tourism and conservation efforts.
His passion for the environment was evident in every aspect of the retreat’s operations, ensuring that it remains a haven for wildlife and nature lovers.
While he has passed his legacy will stand as tall as the rainforest he loved.
Peter O’Reilly’s funeral will be held at St Mary’s Cathedral, Beaudesert on March 21.
