Body is found in search for famous Brisbane restaurateur who went missing during late-night walk
A body found during a search of Brisbane CBD is believed to be that of a beloved restaurateur.
John Kilroy, 74, was last seen on Sunday night after heading out for a stroll along the Brisbane River but never returned.
Mr Kilroy was battling cancer for five years and kept it a secret from most people.
He’d been undergoing treatment and staying with friends when he disappeared.
‘We are worried about him,’ a friend previously told the Courier Mail.
‘He was in great pain and went for a walk and we haven’t seen him since. Police have been notified.’
Police confirmed a body was found at Howard St in Brisbane’s CBD on Monday morning.
The remains are believed to be Mr Kilroy’s.
A body has been found in the search for John Kilroy (left), confirmed by Queensland Police on Monday afternoon
Mr Kilroy (above) started his career in hospitality as a waiter in Townsville before growing a restaurant empire
‘Formal identification is still ongoing. The man’s death is being treated as non-suspicious,’ Queensland Police said in a statement.
Born on a remote grazing property in far western Queensland, Mr Kilroy started out as a humble waiter in Townsville.
He went on to build a glittering restaurant empire spanning Cha Cha Char, Jellyfish and Giardinetto alongside stakes in pubs including The Fox and The Exchange.
In 2019, he was slapped with a $20,000 fine after cockroaches were found in Cha Cha Char’s dining and kitchen areas.
He pleaded guilty at Brisbane Magistrates Court to five charges of failing to comply with the food standards code.
The high-flying hospitality mogul was hit hard by Covid-era dining restrictions, which dealt a crushing financial blow and ultimately forced him to offload many of his prized venues.
He retired in 2020 with the sale of Cha Cha Char, widely recognised as the best steakhouse in Australia and a meeting place for politicians and captains of industry.
In 2021, he moved to Hervey Bay after selling his lavish two-storey New Farm penthouse with a rooftop terrace for $7.5million.
