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Matthew Drummond

May

Neil Perry gives the lazy susan at Song Bird a spin

The chef and restaurateur rejects industry talk he’s sought a buyer for the restaurant but says: “If I had a magic wand, I’d go back to doing what I love.”

April

Daniel Besen in the new wing of TarraWarra Museum of Art in Healesville, Victoria.

‘Quite emotional’: Rich Lister sees parents’ art legacy brought to life

The new Eva and Marc Besen Centre, says son Daniel, completes the circle on what his mum and dad wanted to achieve at their TarraWarra Museum.

Visitors during the Watches and Wonders GENEVA.

‘This is the place to be if you want to see the trends’ (or a signal at least)

Eye-popping pavilions, hyper-limited releases, F1 race cars and bucketloads of Veuve Clicquot: How this year’s Watches and Wonders turned it on for a record 55,000 visitors.

(L-R) Chefs Andreas Caminada, Clare Smyth, Anne-Sophie Pic, Eneko Atxa, and Yannick Alléno attend Hublot Big Bang Night at Geneva Arena on April 02, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Inside the Big Bang watch party in Geneva

There’s supposedly an industry downturn and tariffs could worsen it. But head-turning new timepieces from Rolex and Grand Seiko were among the surprises.

March

Concept weight loss drugs image for AFR Magazine feature.

How Ozempic and other GLP-1s are transforming much more than just waistlines

We don’t yet know how many Australians are taking the jab, but we’re certainly seeing the effects.

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The Italian renaissance-inspired Vizcaya Museum in Miami, where the collection was released.

Van Cleef & Arpels has become stealth wealth hit with Gen Z

Catherine Rénier, CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, is well aware of her brand’s hit status with Generation Z.

December 2024

Melbourne needs a good scrub down, says this well-travelled style guru

Monocle magazine’s Tyler Brûlé is sought for his opinions on matters of taste. He offers some thoughts on how Australia could boost its tourist appeal.

What to wear on your trip into space? This watch CEO has a suggestion

As more countries – and tourists – head into space, Omega’s legacy with NASA could be imperiled. Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann instead sees opportunity.

October 2024

An atrium inside 1 Elizabeth, the new headquarters for Macquarie.

Macquarie’s new home is one to admire for its smarts

The investment banking and trading giant’s new office at 1 Elizabeth Street in Sydney brings building materials, and a metro station, to the fore.

How these Young Rich Listers celebrated their own 21st birthdays

To mark the 21st anniversary of the list, we ask notable Young Rich Listers past and present what their lives were like at 21.

September 2024

Cartoonist David Rowe talks shop with Treasurer Jim Chalmers in Canberra.

How we got Australia’s most powerful to step into David Rowe’s world

We thought our Power listers might be reluctant to participate. Turns out, they loved it – more or less.

Journalist Antoinette Lattouf and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra pianist Jayson Gillham.

The Gaza conflict ripped through the arts and ripped it apart

The conflict in Gaza hangs heavily over theatres and galleries, as animosities lead to a wave of resignations, donor withdrawals and boycotts.

Financial Review About Time watch event.

The About Time Watch Weekend winds down

For two consecutive weekends, more than 1000 AFR subscribers and readers attended hourly appointments with 15 of the world’s finest watchmakers.

About the Watch Weekend: Jaeger LeCoultre.

Why watch buyers want ‘a comfort zone on the wrist’

A tricky time in the economy is pushing customers towards less tricky watches, with brands increasingly serving up variations of their best-selling models.

How would that luxury watch look on you? Find out at the Financial Review Watch Weekend.

Coming to the About Time Watch Weekend? Read this first

First stop is About Time headquarters in Melbourne and Sydney to pick up your lanyard – and then make sure you have a great time.

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About Time Watch Weekend

Appointments still available at About Time – but get in quick

The About Time Watch Weekend is Australia’s prestige event for fine watches and features 15 of the world’s top brands.

August 2024

John McAslan

Keep building ambition, says key architect behind Sydney Metro

UK-based John McAslan says Sydney Metro was a smoother ride than London’s recent Elizabeth Line.

The closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024.

How the French really feel about the Paris Olympics

The Games’ problems – food, air-con, ticket prices – seem prosaic, whereas memories are written in poetry.

The closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024.

Like a French film, it was genius and difficult, but a fitting end

The closing ceremony was slow, and some people walked out, but the fans stayed until the end and only the Hollywood part was a bit off.

July 2024

The Sydney-born solution to NYC’s paragon of inefficiency

Architect Ben Berwick’s modular glazing system for saving energy costs is more than window dressing.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/matthew-drummond-j7gb4