Featured in The Newsport Daily | Issue 24

In 1992 Willie Harland and Tracey Flanagan arrived in Cairns after driving up the coast from Melbourne, completely broke and looking for work. A chance encounter at the Redlynch caravan park led to them working casually at a jewellery stall at the original Cairns Night Markets.

"Six months later the owner of the stall was deported and offered to sell the business to us. We borrowed month from Willie's mum in Scotland and so our career in jewellery retailing was born. For the next 4 years we worked 7 nights a week, doing 2 markets a day on weekends. Then the Night Markets site was developed and we decided to open a store at Smithfield Shopping Centre. It was not an easy time for retail in Cairns, so in 1999 when an opportunity arose to open a store in Port Douglas we jumped at the chance and a year later closed the store in Smithfield, put our house in Trinity Beach up for sale and moved to Port Douglas full time."

The rest, as the say, is history, with Willie and Tracey soon establishing one of the longest running and iconic stores in Macrossan St. Regular buying trips overseas ensured their success with their eye for unique pieces and their passion for gemstones and pearls.

The store has become a favourite with locals and visitors alike, with many customers coming back year after year for their "Wicked Willie's" fix. Sadly, Willie passed away suddenly from a major stroke in May 2013, leaving Tracey, their son Alex, staff and customers shocked at the loss of such a funny, kind and generous personality. Slowly they have got back on their feet again, and this year marked the 18th anniversary of trading in Port Douglas with a move to a fantastic new location and a stunning new store.

Like walking into an Aladdin's Cave, the store stocks treasures from around the world, with the emphasis on unusual, quality gemstone jewellery and beads, freshwater pearls and sterling silver.

And introducing our new product range, Marahlago Larimar, the rare Caribbean gemstone which perfectly reflects the colours of The Great Barrier Reef.

But the most important thing we offer is that warm, personalised service from staff that are more like family. Some things will never changed!