I hope this website can help one of the most difficult questions I get asked “What do you do?” I hope it also answers the question “Why do I do it?”

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Life before Adulthood 

My earliest memory – Arriving at my Grandma’s place in Brisbane in 1970 at age 4 on the train from Sydney

My Mum was an officer in the RAAF and my dad a radio technician in the RAAF when I was born and spent the first 2 years of my life in Canberra, then my next 2 years spent in Sydney. My Catholic Parents provided me with six sisters, Meg, Loretta, Bernadette, Teresa, Madonna & Regina and one Brother Daniel who was 10 years my junior.

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I had learning difficulties at my Primary Schools due to my poor eyesight – Holy Rosary at Windsor, Saint Grovely then Saint James in Fortitude Valley.

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My father (former Australian Combined Services Rugby player) got me involved in Rugby League at six years old, where catching a ball was my biggest challenge for the next 7 years, forget tackling that was just a dream, anyone who ran at me, was sure to score. 

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At age 11, I had my first of many part-time jobs selling morning and afternoon newspapers at the Ekka. Getting up at 4.00am, I remember Mum gave me $2.00 for lunch and I made a total of $1.67 for my first 12 hour day. By the end of the 10 day Brisbane show I had changed jobs three times and was making $15 a day. I had discovered Resilience.

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I first attended high school at Mitchelton State High, most days, however what I was doing while not at school led to the choice of youth detention or boarding school. So I was packed off to Downlands College in Toowoomba with the MSC Priests and Brothers, where I was promptly expelled at age 14 for drinking and smoking. Having hit rock bottom and with nowhere else to go, I decided to change my life, and the principal accepted me back (with a few conditions and words of advice).

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I didn’t let him down, graduating as School Vice-Captain, Captain of the 1st 15 Rugby Team and Commanding Office of the Cadet Corps in 1984. Along the way Winning the Cadet Obstacle course, Winning Grammar Day and making lifelong friends while getting a rounded education.  I was now ready for my new phase in life, Full Time Work! After Schoolies Week at the Gold Coast of course!

 

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Leading up to Adventure Tourism in the New Millennium 

After School, I was accepted as a police cadet, as an electrical apprentice and into the Army reserve, however I failed all the medicals due to my poor eyesight and being colour blind.

After a brief stint in the local machanics workshop, I finally settled on a Metal Fabrication Trade (Boilermaking in a Central Queensland coalmine), I also volunteered as a trades teacher and maintenance worker in an Aboriginal Mission in the Northern Territory (Wadeye) and welded piles in wharf construction in at the Port of Melbourne. I got to mix the creativity of being a fabrication tradesman with being in the mines rescue team and leaning ropes training, rescue and abseiling at height.

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In 1988 at age 22, I started my first business “Contemporary Design” building sculptures and designer furniture from recycled timber, metal and stone in Brisbane. Before too long I needed to pivot, the real money was in steel fabrication and my uncle Tony lead me into Bridge and Wharf construction all over Australia. I formed my first partnership with Shannon Dorsett “Starlight Engineering” in my mid-twenties a firm he still runs today.  

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At age 28, I started contracting for the Brisbane City Council as the Structures Manager responsible for bridges, river walls and pontoons, where I was directed to write a report to argue why it was too risky for general public to climb Story Bridge, instead I approached the Lord Mayor to see if we could make it happen, many years later we turned this into a reality and now I am proud to deliver wheelchair climbs to the summit. 

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In my early thirties I completed a Bachelor of Built Environment QUT (the degree combines architectural thinking, engineering principles and construction management). I had ideas of becoming an Architect or Industrial Designer, however Tourism was calling me with Riverlife and Story Bridge Adventure Climb Projects underway.

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What do I do?
I build adventure tourism businesses with great co-founders and partners, creating experiences that are unique, accessible, fun and genuinely exciting.
Along the way I’ve founded and grown projects including, the Riverlife Adventure Centre, Story Bridge Adventure Climb, Vertigo at Brisbane Powerhouse, Mirrabooka Riverlife, Adventure Moreton Island, Tangatours, Tangalooma Water-Sports, RivertoBay high-speed vessels, and P&O/Carnaval Edge cruise ship adventure parks, among others.

Today, I’m actively developing new adventure and eco-tourism projects as Brisbane leads into the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with a strong focus on accessibility, sustainability, and creating tourism experiences that make the city better, more inclusive, and more connected to its natural environment.

Why do I do it ?
It’s difficult, it’s challenging, it’s rewarding — and the fun memories stay with the millions of participants long after the experience is over.

I invite you to explore Sharpey.co and learn more about my journey so far.​

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