Scott Hutchinson returns to the Burning Man Festival in the Nevada desert for the 14th time
One of Australia's top builders swaps hard hats for desert dust as he prepares for his 14th consecutive Burning Man festival alongside 80,000 revellers.
Hutchies boss Scott Hutchinson says he’s returning to the Nevada desert for the annual Burning Man festival to party on with thousands of other revellers.
The head of Australia’s largest privately-owned construction firm leaves Brisbane on Monday for his 14th consecutive Burning Man that will attract up to 80,000 people for the week-long desert bash that culminates with the burning of a 25m effigy, dubbed “The Man”.
“I’d never miss it. It’s fantastic. It’s a place where there’s a complete lack of schedule. It’s a place of complete freedom,” Hutchinson says.
There’s usually a sizeable Australian contingent at the event and Hutchinson says he will be there with good mates Marcus Gaffney and Robert Gunderlach.
The festival has been in operation since 1986 as a celebration of counterculture and utopian ideals, against a backdrop of dramatic performance art and installations. It also attracts the big names of the business world seeking to tune out from the every day demands.
Hutchinson – who is a dedicated festival goer – says compared to other events Burning Man “takes you to another planet”.
Even the possibility of a repeat of the flood events of 2023 doesn’t deter Hutchinson who was one of thousands of festival goers trapped at that event which he said at the time made the ground “absolute glue”.
“It was the best time ever. It added another dimension to it,” he says.
Nuptials
We hear that Tony Smith recently got married in Bali.
If you recall the former Swans ruckman and prominent Gold Coast real estate player knows Bali well, owning Finns Beach Club, which is a popular venue in the Canggu area of the island. It was his second marriage.
The 1.99m Smith, who founded the Breakfree accommodation group, is still doing deals back home.
Last year he pulled off the $40m sale of a 1525 sqm beachfront block over three titles at Palm Beach to Brisbane-based cult fashion label Dissh, Lucy Henry-Hicks and her partner Mitchell Lau.
Smith’s business and personal journey has been on the veritable rollercoaster.
He made a fortune and pretty much lost it during the GFC but bounced back to create another fortune. He then faced charges over allegations relating to a plot to kidnap a banking executive on an Indonesian island. The charges were dismissed in 2020.
Life seems to be on the up.
Cannes bound
The Southern Hemisphere’s largest boat builder is Europe bound.
Following the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in May, Gold Coast-based Riviera is now preparing for the first international premiere of its latest model – the 4300 Sports Express, at the prestigious Cannes Yachting Festival.
Developed with the global market in mind, Riviera expects the $1.6 million motor yacht to be especially popular with the sun loving Europeans.
The 4300 will be part of a display in Cannes that will also include the sophisticated 4600 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition and the sporty 395 SUV.
“The European market particularly loves that day boat style that can comfortably entertain larger groups,” Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst says.
“We’re looking forward to showcasing Australia’s expression of this great outdoors design in Cannes.”
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