Back to the Future star James Tolkan dies aged 94
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Arthur Coghlan 1932-2025. Photo Kevin Farmer / The Chronicle
For generations of Australians, the name Arthur Coghlan conjured more than smoke and mirrors - it summoned wonder.
The legendary Queensland escape artist, magician, and entrepreneur passed away peacefully in July 2025, aged 93. With a career spanning decades and a legacy stitched into the cultural fabric of the Gold Coast, Arthur wasn't just a showman - he was a pioneer of spectacle, mystery, and fearless ambition.
A Life Built on Daring Dreams
Arthur Coghlan as a young magician.
Born in 1932, Arthur Coghlan grew up in a world rebuilding after hardship. Where others saw limits, he saw possibility. Fascinated by sleight of hand and stagecraft, he taught himself the art of illusion from a young age, eventually earning a name as one of Australia's most daring entertainers.
He would go on to perform death-defying stunts across the country - escaping from locked crates submerged in water, wriggling free from handcuffs mid-air, and vanishing from chained containers to the cheers of astonished crowds. But Arthur was never in it for cheap thrills. His goal was always clear: to spark joy, disbelief, and imagination in equal measure.
The Magic Mountain Years
Magic Mountain on the Gold Coast.
Arthur's impact reached far beyond the stage. In the 1960s and '70s, he became instrumental in the development of Magic Mountain, a family theme park that brought laughter and levity to the Gold Coast. While it may no longer stand today, its legacy lives on in the hearts of locals and visitors who recall it as a place of childhood wonder - thanks in no small part to Arthur's flair for the extraordinary.
Whether behind the scenes or under the spotlight, Arthur's creative vision helped shape Queensland's entertainment landscape at a time when tourism was just beginning to boom.
The Final Curtain
Magician Arthur Coghlan and his daughter Helen.
Though he formally retired decades ago, Arthur never truly left the world of performance. Even in his later years, he would occasionally return to the limelight, appearing on television or performing for charity. His energy remained magnetic, his timing sharp, and his commitment to the craft unwavering.
Those who knew him speak of a man who was generous with his talent, cheeky with his humour, and endlessly devoted to his audiences. He made the impossible feel achievable - not just through illusion, but through how he lived.
