Coral Bay pioneer William Brogan dies after long career as orthodontist and business owner

William “Bill” Brogan was a pioneer of turning Coral Bay into a tourism destination — fuelled by a desire for it to be the “Rotto of the north”.

But, amazingly, he didn’t rate the town’s development as his top achievement.

Mr Brogan died on June 2 at the age of 95. He will be remembered not only for his vision of Coral Bay as a tourist attraction but also his work as an orthodontist in Perth.

Originally a “10-pound Pom”, Mr Brogan bought a glass bottom boat in 1973 and never looked back, owning several Coral Bay businesses alongside his family, including his wife Alison.

An ocean-lover to his core, Mr Brogan loved diving, according to his son Alistair, and the warm water was part of the appeal of the area.

The location at the Ningaloo Reef makes the town a prime destination for tourists and Mr Brogan hoped the reef would be protected by future generations.

He helped establish the North West Marine Association and put funding towards the Marine Research Centre.

Despite his work establishing Coral Bay as a tourism drawcard, according to his son it was not his proudest achievement.

Mr Brogan had a long career as an orthodontist, operating on children with cleft lips and palates.

His biggest accomplishment in life was the children he helped, as the senior orthodontist at Princess Margaret Hospital cleft lip and palate unit.

He operated on thousands of children from 1966 to 1998, improving their lives through his work.

“Coral Bay is a fantastic venture but helping sick kids has been something he’s been very proud of,” son Alistair Brogan said.

Bill Brogan spearheaded the successful sinking of the artesian bore in 1981 to establish a consistent water supply.

“He had to mortgage the house and take the risk and, fortunately, he did get water and that changed how Coral Bay developed,” Alistair said.

He wanted the area to be accessible to all Western Australians — the “Rotto of the north”.

“We get so many letters and emails nowadays, ‘I came here as a kid, I’m now bringing my kids here’.

“The accessibility provided with the caravan park for all West Australians is really cool and we don’t want to be a five-star luxury resort.

“We want to be something that’s available to everyone.”

The Brogan family still own their original boating business Bills’ Bar, plus The Ningaloo Club and the local shopping centre.

Mr Brogan loved the sea his whole life and didn’t stop scuba diving until he was 83.

Alistair Brogan said that his father always had to “go down and look at the ocean after his shopping expedition” on a Saturday morning.