Jerry Schwartz buys Sydney Seaplanes and Empire Lounge restaurant at Rose Bay

Australia’s largest private hotel owner will go head to head with Justin Hemmes and Judy McMahon of Catalina, hoping to resurrect Rose Bay into a top hospitality precinct.

Jerry Scwartz has taken full ownership of Sydney Seaplanes and the Empire lounge. Picture: Supplied

Australia’s largest private hotel owner Dr Jerry Schwartz will do battle with Justin Hemmes and Judy McMahon of Catalina’s, hoping to resurrect Rose Bay and turn it into a top hospitality precinct.

Dr Schwartz has an impressive hotel portfolio with over 15 hotels including Sofitel Darling Harbour and the Fairmont Blue Mountains as well as Sydney Brewery.

The Sunday Telegraph can exclusively reveal he’s now adding to the portfolio, becoming the 100 per cent owner of Sydney Seaplanes at Rose Bay.

As part of this he will relaunch the site’s waterfront restaurant Empire as Sydney Seaplanes Lounge.

Dr Jerry Schwartz. Picture: Jerad Williams

Justin Hemmes. Picture: Mick Bruzzese

Dr Schwartz became a one-third partner in Sydney Seaplanes over five years ago, however he felt hamstrung in his ability to make change so decided to buy out the remaining shares.

“We want this to be a destination,” he said.

“It’s unique to have an airport in the middle of the Harbour. It’s an unbelievable location.”

Dr Schwartz said his priority will be promoting the flight experiences, while wife Debbie has taken charge of the new food and beverage offering.

There are plans to expand flights out of the Rose Bay terminal, with ports in Wollongong and Newcastle on the cards. Picture: ATSB

Chef Natali Mikailoglu, who has worked at Rockpool and Merivale, has been lured across from The Boathouse Group to head up the kitchen and has created a menu with a focus on locally sourced seafood.

There’s a creamy Thai-style barramundi curry, Mediterranean pan-fried snapper with sweet baby sugar plum tomato and Sicilian olives, and a seafood spaghetti with calamari, muscles and prawns.

The cocktail and drinks menu has also been completely redesigned.

Chef Natali Mikailoglu will run the restaurant’s kitchen.

The hotel tzar is now in direct competition with Hemmes, whose Merivale is set to take over RSL Club Rose Bay, and also iconic Sydney restaurant Catalina.

“I’ve always believed in healthy competition … my view is that it helps you improve and also you help each other out,” Dr Schwartz said.

“I think it’s extremely positive that Hemmes has taken over Club Rose Bay. Along with Catalina it helps make it a precinct and then we are the icing on the cake.”

The restaurant started off as a luxe waiting lounge for the aircraft taking off and landing in the 1930s.

There are now plans to expand flights out of the Rose Bay terminal, with ports in Wollongong and Newcastle on the cards.

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Originally published as Jerry Schwartz buys Sydney Seaplanes and Empire Lounge restaurant at Rose Bay