From today, Morris Group, Morris Family Foundation, Morris Technology, and Morris Aviation will share a common look and feel.
More than just a new logo and some new colours, our new brand helps to bring our businesses closer together.
Our new identity reflects how connected we are, recognising that when we work together, we become something greater – more than the sum of our parts.
About the new brand
The inspiration for the new logo comes from Morris Group’s foundations as a family-owned business. It starts with the letter ‘M’ representing Chris Morris and the Morris family.
From there it draws inspiration from our culture of working together across our collection of businesses spread across Australia and the world. We may be geographically distant, but we’re inherently connected.
And so, many M’s connect to form our icon.
The new brand colour is modern, vibrant, and energetic, but with a nod to our heritage. Purple is the colour synonymous with Computershare, the first company founded by Chris Morris.
Morris Technology and Morris Aviation will adopt the core purple branding, while Morris Family Foundation features a bright yellow colour to reflect the optimism and energy of the work it does with partner organisations progressing environmental and social justice.
Our new visual identity has been brought to life on the new Morris Group website, which is now live and ready to be explored.
It’s a philosophy that’s served him well time after time – from his humble beginnings growing and selling tomatoes during his early days as a computer programmer; through to founding Computershare and building it into an ASX Top-50 global company.
He’s more interested in following his instincts and his passions, than to develop a 10-year masterplan that’ll never come to fruition.
Leading with the heart
This approach has meant that as Morris Group has grown, the business has become more reflective of Chris himself and all the things that bring him joy. Great pubs with good food and wine, craft brewing, holidays in idyllic locations, and cruising the open waters.
His decision to purchase the legendary Portsea Hotel, for example, was made more with the heart strings than with the purse strings. It’s a toast to fond memories of summers spent on the Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
A view of Port Phillip Bay from Portsea Hotel
“It’s the place where I had my first drink and I think probably half of Victoria’s teenagers had their first drink at the Portsea Hotel. It’s such an iconic place and when it came up for sale in the late 90s, I had nothing to do with pubs. I was just running Computershare. But that’s how it all started.”
Since then, his collection of pubs has grown, each with their own connection and story, and all adored by their local communities in their unique way.
A tropical love affair
Although he spends a lot of his time these days on Queensland’s Gold Coast enjoying what he describes as some of the world’s best beaches, it’s the state’s far north that has really captured his imagination and become the beating heart of Morris Group’s tourism portfolio.
Chris’ well documented love affair with North Queensland began when his dream of owning an island resort finally became within reach.
“It was back in 2011. I just saw an ad in the Financial Review about an island for sale called Orpheus Island,” he says.
“Some people dream of owning a pub, but owning an island was pretty attractive to me.”
In more recent years, he’s further cemented his love for this slice of paradise by acquiring the nearby Pelorus Island, now home to some of Australia’s most exclusive private residence accommodation, nestled on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef: Pelorus Private Island.
“It’s unquestionably the best beach. You can swim off the beach about 20 metres and there’s some of the best coral you’ve ever seen. It’s just totally unique and there’s nobody else on the island. It’s pretty special,” he says.
“I obviously love my boats and spending time on the Mediterranean and enjoying the history and all of that. But the thing about being on the boat in The Med is that there’s absolutely no fish.
“That’s the thing I love about North Queensland. Around Pelorus and Orpheus Island there’s fish everywhere and you won’t see another boat. I love fishing off the boat, catching a coral trout or a red emperor and then eating it that night – there’s really nothing better.”
The beach and reef at Orpheus Island in North Queensland
The luck of the draw
Perhaps one of Chris’ luckiest catches though, was when Townsville’s Jupiters Hotel & Casino went up for sale in 2013 – and it was almost the one that got away.
Initially, his main interest in the property was as a potential location for helicopter transfers for guests to and from Orpheus Island and for handling stock deliveries.
But when he took a tour, he saw a glimmer of potential. A bold vision and an extensive redevelopment later and The Ville Resort-Casino was born.
“Like most things, it happened by accident,” he says.
“When we bought The Ville there wasn’t one bar or any place where you could sit and have a drink and look over the water. It was crazy!
“Now it’s probably the biggest asset that we’ve got and I think it’s probably one of the best casinos in Australia. The team has done a great job and the locals love The Ville.”
His knack for seeing a business’ potential to grow and evolve has also seen him transform Nautilus Aviation from a one-aircraft operation to Australia’s biggest helicopter operators.
People power
He says that while passion plays a significant role, there’s another big factor that makes Morris Group’s businesses successful: its people.
“Generally speaking, I think the thing that makes great businesses is great people. It’s never just about one person. My whole approach to running businesses and making them successful is trying to get the best people. That doesn’t always happen overnight, and you might have to have a few goes but when you get it right, you know.
“Something that I get a lot of satisfaction out of is when I see people from across all the different businesses working together. Morris Group has a lot of different businesses in different areas – it’s everything from helicopters to pubs to boats and hotels – so it’s taken a bit of time to get there; but it’s at a point now where it really is coming together.
“People are realising that we’re all one company and coming up with ways of collaborating and finding better ways to do things that benefit everyone. In the end, it’s about the whole group and that’s the most satisfying thing for me.”
Mum’s the word
Looking back, Chris admits that his own success wasn’t always a certainty.
In fact, in his teenage years he struggled with his studies and was unsure what direction his life would take. It wasn’t until he found his true passion, that he saw things clearly.
“I was a bit too distracted with girls in those years I think,” he laughs.
“I was failing at most subjects at school, but I just passed maths. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do but something I really loved was computer programming.”
So, while his siblings went off and pursued university education his mother intervened. Driven by the simple goal of landing him some steady employment, she enrolled him in Australia’s first ever computer course in 1966.
“I really owe my mum for that one. None of my success would have happened without her,” he says.
The Morris Family
Back yourself
Having found his niche in the emerging world of technology, Chris flourished. Twelve years later he founded his stock transfer company Computershare and the rest is history.
Today the company has offices in 20 countries across five continents and employs over 18,000 people.
“I was passionate about programming, so I actually loved going to work,” he says.
“I think that’s the key to life. If you don’t really want to go to work, you’re probably not going to be good at it. You’ve got to have a bit of passion.
“The other thing I’ve always believed is that if you don’t believe in yourself, nobody ever will. I always believed I was the best computer programmer in the world, and you have to.
“But you have to work hard too. My first business venture was growing tomatoes when I was starting my work as a computer programmer.
“I used to come home from work and pack tomatoes and then get up in the morning and go to Queen Victoria Market and sell them. I tell everyone that I made all my money in tomatoes.”
The new partnership is the largest contribution to the club from the private sector in its history, providing clear commitment to the advancement of female sport and pathways for elite athlete development in the north.
Morris Group Founder and Executive Chairman Chris Morris said the company was proud to throw its support behind the team and keep it in the hands of the community.
“Whilst we were initially approached to purchase the club, we felt that it was important for The Townsville Fire to remain community-owned unlike many other clubs in the competition,” Mr Morris said.
“We’re proud that we can play a role in supporting the team and to the continuing development of professional women’s sport in North Queensland,”
Chris Morris, Executive Chairman, Morris Group
The Townsville Fire
Fire General Manager Sam Pascoe said the partnership with Morris Group demonstrates an incredible commitment to the community and will ensure that the Fire continues to provide a direct pathway to female athletes from the region.
“We have worked closely with The Ville since 2020, and to have them come on board in such a significant way, is truly a game changer for the club,” she said.
‘It means we remain competitive not just in the WNBL but in the entire sporting landscape, we can continue to set the bar and grow our organisation; and providing a genuine opportunity to focus on junior pathways in our region.”
As part of the arrangement, Townsville Fire will also welcome CBCo Brewing as their new official Beer and Cider Partner.
Since becoming an industry partner of the Dream, Believe, Achieve employment program the property has delivered around 16,000 hours of work placement for jobseekers from across the region.
Dream, Believe, Achieve is open to North Queenslanders who are over 15 years and not currently working or enrolled in school or other training courses.
Over the course of the 10-week intensive training, the participants complete their Certificate III in Hospitality, including their Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA), Responsible Gambling Services (RSG), and food safety certificates.
As well as the all-important qualifications, the participants also get the opportunity to complete real-life experience through work placement at a local hospitality business.
North Queensland Cowboys Programs Mentor Albey Reuben says it’s the experience of working somewhere like The Ville that really sets students up for success.
“Industry partners are vital to the course because they facilitate on-the-job work experience for our participants, which gives them the opportunity to experience a workplace before committing to a role and helps them build the skills and confidence they need to succeed,” he said.
“Our students who work at The Ville really love it. It’s a great employer because of the range of opportunities available from the variety of restaurants through to hotel, gaming, functions, and major events,”
Albey Reuben, North Queensland Cowboys Programs Mentor
Cowboys House
“I see students really grow in confidence as well as ability. That type of environment really helps them decide what career path they want to follow once they finish their training.
“We’ve had students who have gained full-time employment and elevated themselves to supervisor positions at The Ville after completing the course which speaks volumes for the opportunities on offer.”
Recent graduate Cutika Illin is just one of the many Dream, Believe, Achieve alumni who was employed by The Ville at the end of her work experience.
“I see students really grow in confidence as well as ability. That type of environment really helps them decide what career path they want to follow once they finish their training.
“We’ve had students who have gained full-time employment and elevated themselves to supervisor positions at The Ville after completing the course which speaks volumes for the opportunities on offer.”
Recent graduate Cutika Illin is just one of the many Dream, Believe, Achieve alumni who was employed by The Ville at the end of her work experience.
“It’s so rewarding to watch our participants grow every day they are with us, from being very shy and reserved, to achieving their goals,”
Albey Reuben, North Queensland Cowboys Programs Mentor
“They finish with a sense of confidence, purpose, and routine that they didn’t have before. A lot of people walk around with two left feet because they’re unsure of what they want to do, or don’t have the support they need to achieve their dreams.
“Once they get the confidence to believe in themselves and their abilities, that’s where the purpose comes from because they can see they have a bright future and people want them to succeed.”
For Albey, one of the most inspiring success stories the program has seen was a participant named Terrance.
“When he started with us, he hadn’t worked in 10 years and was living in a men’s shelter,” Albey said.
“Sometimes it was a struggle for him to show up every day for 10 weeks, especially after being out of the workforce for so long. But he persevered through the course, showed resilience, and really demonstrated that you can get to where you want to be with the right support and determination.
“The Ville really embraced him and supported him on that journey and now he’s one of the favourites on the team.”
Albey says it’s stories like Terrance’s and Cutika’s that are testament to the power of collaboration between the program and industry partners like The Ville.
“We’re really proud of the outcomes Dream, Believe, Achieve is seeing and we’re excited to continue providing opportunities for North Queenslanders,”
“We’re really appreciative of our industry partners like The Ville, for the real opportunities they provide for our participants to achieve their goals.”
But what he didn’t see coming was that four years later he’d also be driving the brewery’s charge into sustainable agriculture.
The brewery’s location on 70 acres of land in Western Australia’s picturesque Margaret River region makes it prime land for farming. Eamon says even from his first day he could immediately see the potential for bringing the farm, brewery and restaurant together more seamlessly.
The goal: using regenerative farming principles to achieve a ‘closed loop’. In short, using wastewater from the brewing process to irrigate grazing paddocks, or the spent grain to feed sheep and cattle reared onsite to be used in the restaurant for the full paddock to plate experience.
“The goal is to make the whole property more sustainable economically, socially, and environmentally,” Eamon said.
“We’re actually value-adding to the property and treating the land with care and respect. Not only repairing the land but making it better than what it was before,”
Eamon Clifford, General Manager, CBCo Brewing Margaret River
Cattle
“We also want to create a fuller experience for our patrons – an even bigger reason for people to travel to our brewery and give us some prominence. There are 11 breweries in Margaret River so it’s very competitive and this helps with creating a point of difference.”
The first seeds for the more sustainable model were sown about three years ago when CBCo began actively managing the grounds beyond the brewery.
At that time the land was in pretty poor shape; overrun with invasive kikuyu grass that’s too long for sheep to graze, too overgrown to seed with new grass, and requiring a lot of manual work to irrigate and fertilise.
The turnaround really took off last year, after the brewery received a grant for Eamon and the brewery’s Head of Grounds and Maintenance, Darren Arthur to complete a 12-month course in regenerative farming.
Since starting the course nine months ago, Eamon and Darren have learned more about soil-testing, whole farm planning, and low intervention farming practices.
“What’s different in regenerative farming to traditional methods is that instead of having just one crop that needs continual watering, ripping the hay, and a lot of fertilisers, we’re trying to reduce those inputs,” Eamon said.
“It’s about changing from a monoculture to a polyculture. At the moment we have 20 different species growing in the paddocks. Those 20 varieties are designed as a summer and winter mix, so they add the nitrogen and all the microorganisms to the soil which mean you don’t have to continually add fertiliser.”
In May 2023, the CBCo paddock reached a major milestone, with the arrival of its first sheep.
“We started off with a small flock of 40 or 50, and that’s grown to about 150 lambs on the property now,” he said.
“So, we’re going to be able to have our first paddock to plate in around October or November this year which is really exciting.”
Stage two of the project is well underway with the property’s first herd of cattle now settled in. They’re a relatively new breed called lowlines, a miniature angus beef which grow to around one metre tall.
“We’re in the process of becoming one of the first registered lowlines stock breeders in the southwest,” Eamon said.
“These cows are suited to smaller farms because of their size, and it means we can share the paddocks between the sheep and the cattle. You don’t have to change all the fencing because you don’t have a one tonne animal tearing through there.”
With the cattle breeding process in full swing, Eamon says there are some key projects in the pipeline to get them closer to closing the loop. Next on the agenda… wastewater.
“Our massive advantage is that we’ve got the brewery onsite so we have a consistent supply wastewater that we can use year-round,” he said.
“There’s going to be a time in the future where water’s going to be more expensive than beer, so we need to repurpose this asset that we have and redirect it out of the brewery and to the farm as opposed to just letting it go to waste.”
Apart from the obvious environmental benefits, the CBCo approach is also yielding positive results when it comes to providing opportunities to work closely with the local community.
Recently, the team hosted a trade waste conference with industry peers from local wineries and breweries so they could coordinate their approach, and work together towards achieving common goals.
Eamon says there’s still a lot of work to do, but the progress so far has been satisfying to see.
“I think we’re probably two years away from being fully self-sufficient on the farm,” he said.
“It’s taken a lot of effort to push, and it’s still early days but it now feels like a farm that’s being managed proactively.”
And even though farming was never really on his radar as something he could add to his CV, he says he’s enjoying the challenge of bringing agriculture and sustainability front and centre at CBCo Margaret River.
“It’s exciting and it adds a new element to the job which keeps it super interesting. It’s more than just pulling pints,” he said.
“I’ve really enjoyed the sustainability aspect of it and making this place even better. One of the best things about working for Morris Group and CBCo is that if you find a valuable project, you can get the support to pull it off.”
The Albert Park Hotel and Railway Club Hotel made the list of the 30 best pubs in Melbourne, while Portsea Hotel was named as one of Victoria’s top 10 regional pubs.
In its assessment of Albert Park Hotel, Good Food said it stood out from its peers for its food – the Happy Valley kitchen sidestepping the pub standards with ‘a menu that’s fun, feastable, and farmer-focused, and service that lets the good times roll’.
Meanwhile, Railway Club Hotel’s diehard commitment to beef helped it make the cut, Good Food describing its legendary steaks as ‘first-rate’.
In the top 10 list for Victoria’s best regional pubs, Portsea Hotel’s stunning views made it an obvious inclusion, along with its ‘bona fide always-on-holiday vibe’.
Portsea Hotel
Their projects range from supporting our farmers and First Nations entrepreneurs, protecting our oceans, and achieving a zero-waste society.
A quick guide to some of the foundation’s latest funded projects:
Australian Marine Conservation Society – the country’s only organisation that is solely devoted to protecting and restoring ocean wildlife and their habitats.
Farming for the Future – an innovative research project that is working with Australia’s agriculture sector to create a decarbonised, financially prosperous, and climate resilient industry.
Australian Holistic Management Cooperative – part of a global network that’s committed to supporting farmers to implement practices that measurably regenerate their land.
Grata Fund – building a fairer world by harnessing the power of high impact, strategic litigation to create structural change in climate justice, human rights, and democratic freedoms.
MURRA Indigenous Business Masterclass – aims to develop the capacity of First Nations entrepreneurs and professionals to develop business opportunities.
Boomerang Alliance – Australia’s leading non-government organisation on plastic campaigning, which aims to contribute to a healthy planet by achieving a zero-waste society.
Farming for the future
Embraced by pristine waters, superb fringing reefs, and a lush verdant hillside, Pelorus Private Island boasts a naturally isolated single, sprawling residence featuring four luxurious suites, making it the only luxury private island residence in the region.
Accessed via a 30-minute helicopter journey from Townsville or a private superyacht, guests are invited to indulge in relaxation and barefoot adventure with a range of bespoke activities on offer including diving and snorkelling, guided jet ski and sea bob tours, reef fishing, access to the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) and boat charters. The island also provides access to the untouched wilderness of Hinchinbrook Island, Australia’s largest island national park, home to rainforest-clad hiking trails, cascading waterfalls, abundant wildlife and diverse flora.
Morris Group Founder and Executive Chairman, Chris Morris said Pelorus Private Island will bring something incredibly unique to Tropical North Queensland.
“Pelorus Private Island is a rare offering on the Great Barrier Reef, where guests can enjoy unparalleled levels of privacy and personalised
service, in a location that seamlessly combines nature with luxury,”Chris Morris, Executive Chairman, Morris Group
Pelorus Island
“The intimate dwelling is best shared with family and friends looking for a truly memorable getaway on the reef together. The secluded and highly private nature of the residence will attract a calibre of premium travellers not often seen in this part of the world.”
According to Tourism Australia’s Global Future of Tourism Demand Research, luxury travellers averaged 5.1 trips in the past five years with over one-third having taken five or more trips during this period. These travellers spend more when they travel and travel more frequently than most other traveller types.
“Pelorus Private Island aligns with the growing consumer demand for ultra-luxe products that offer exclusivity, privacy and remoteness while allowing them to connect and spend time with loved ones,” said Mr Morris.
With architecture and interiors designed by Dubois Design, Pelorus Private Island is currently under construction and is due to open to international and domestic travellers in November 2023.
Following the Highlander Tavern’s closure in 2020, the pub was acquired in 2022 by Morris Hospitality, the hospitality arm of Morris Group that operates a number of tourism and hospitality venues across northern Queensland including The Ville Resort – Casino in Townsville, Orpheus Island Lodge, and Mount Mulligan Lodge.
The Julatten Hotel will return as a popular spot for locals and tourists to unwind with a new menu of popular classics including pizzas, burgers and steaks. Dishes include the whole tiger prawn bucket, the signature Julatten beef burger, the Nashville chicken burger and classic chicken parmi.
Working with a range of local suppliers, other menu highlights include Barramundi Gardens spring rolls, Port Douglas Smokehouse antipasti and grilled local Barramundi fillets.
On the drinks front, guests will be able to refresh themselves with a huge range of tap beers from CBCo Brewing and on weekends, live music will be a highlight with great local acts every Saturday from 5-8pm and Sunday 1-4pm.
The Julatten Hotel will be open Thursday – Sunday 11.30am to late and Wednesday 3pm to late.
Julatten Hotel
While a proportion of the property’s power already comes from renewables, the deal will see that ratio increased over the next two years to reach the 100% target.
The deal makes The Ville the first Townsville-based organisation to sign up for renewable energy from CleanCo, a government-owned electricity generation and trading company that’s fuelled by a mix of renewable energy and innovative energy solutions.
The Ville CEO Michael Jones said the partnership with CleanCo marked a significant milestone in the property’s sustainable business practices.
“We’re committed to reducing our emissions and impact on the environment and by partnering with CleanCo now, we’ll be able to ensure The Ville is 100% powered by renewable sources by 2025,” he said.
“We’re privileged to be in a location of great natural beauty with the Ville being on the doorstep to The Great Barrier Reef and overlooking the Coral Sea. By using sustainable business practices such as renewable energy, we’re contributing to protecting and preserving this environment for generations to come.”
Michael Jones, CEO, The Ville Resort – Casino
The Ville
