CHILLING DETAILS EMERGE… – A body discovered during the search for legendary Brisbane restaurateur John Kilroy is believed to be his, bringing a heartbreaking development to the investigation.
Police believe a body found during a search in Brisbane’s CBD on Monday is that of legendary Queensland restaurateur John Kilroy.
Fears were held for the 73-year-old after he failed to return from a walk along the Brisbane River on Sunday night.
Mr Kilroy was staying with friends in inner city Brisbane while undergoing treatment for cancer.
“We are worried about him,” said a friend. “He was in great pain and went for a walk and we haven’t seen him since.
He said Mr Kilroy had been battling cancer for five years, but kept it secret from most acquaintances.
Police on Monday afternoon confirmed that the body of a man had been found at Howard St in Brisbane’s CBD.
John Kilroy pictured at Jellyfish Restaurant in 2011. Picture: Tim Marsden
“Officers initially received a missing persons report regarding a 73-year-old man from Brisbane City this morning,” a statement said.
“Following initial inquires, a man was located deceased in a carpark near Howard Street. While officers believe the man to be the missing 73-year-old, formal identification is still ongoing.”
The man’s death is not being treated as suspicious and police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Mr Kilroy, who was born on a grazing property in far western Queensland began life in hospitality as a waiter in Townsville before building a restaurant empire that included Cha Cha Char, Jellyfish and Giardinetto, with interests in pubs including The Fox and The Exchange.
Dining restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic took a heavy financial toll and he was forced to sell many of his properties.
He “retired” to Hervey Bay in 2021 after selling his spectacular two-storey New Farm penthouse with a rooftop terrace for $7.5 million.
Mr Kilroy’s Cha Cha Char restaurant was widely recognised as the best steakhouse in Australia and was a meeting place of politicians and captains of industry. He pioneered the wagyu brands and was one of the first restaurateurs in the country to sell a steak for more than $100. He once boasted that six prime ministers had dined there.
