The Luckock family revealed as reclusive mega-millionaires behind controversial giant Barwon Heads mansion

The family behind a controversial huge mansion planned for Barwon Heads include an oil tycoon and a director of English soccer club Bolton.

Residents are opposing a major development along the Barwon Heads riverfront with links to two millionaire brothers working overseas.

The reclusive multi-millionaire family behind an enormous controversial mansion planned for Barwon Heads includes an oil tycoon and the director of an English soccer club.

Neighbours fear the 10-bedroom compound, which would be built across four blocks on the banks of the Barwon River, will “forever change” the town.

The four consolidated properties are on Paringa Lane and Talbot St and the land alone has been bought for upwards of $25m over the past seven years by John and Lauraine Luckock.

Many local residents, including those who say they are friends of the couple, are actively opposing the project, calling it “over-the-top”, like a “cruise ship” on land and “unsympathetic to the landscape of Barwon Heads”.

The couple’s two sons, Ben and Nick Luckock, are both multi-millionaire businessmen based in Europe.

Ben is the global head of oil at one of the world’s largest multinational commodities companies, Trafigura.

Nick is based in the UK, where he serves as the chair of Verdane’s Advisory Board, a specialist growth equity investment firm, and he is also the director of English soccer club Bolton Wanderers.

One set of plans for the soon-to-begin build mansion includes three floors, seven living spaces, multiple dining rooms, 10 bedrooms – each with an ensuite – as well as a bar, cinema, elevator, golf simulator, outdoor space and a retaining sea wall to the river.

Barwon Heads resident Richard Fooks said neighbours near the family’s planned build felt the massive house was the most ostentatious build Barwon Heads had ever seen.

“This is a radical design for Barwon Heads,” Mr Fooks said.

“It is not in keeping with the ambience along the river.”

“The ambience consists of low-rise, double-storey, and small cottages and family friendly atmosphere.”

Residents including Richard Fooks are opposing a major development along the Barwon Heads riverfront. Picture: Alison Wynd

John and Lauraine Luckock owned a rural property at Newham from 2000 to 2016, when it was sold for $2,100,000 through Abercromby’s Coast & Country.

It is believed the couple were already based in the Barwon Heads area before they started buying up the properties where they plan to build.

The couple have been involved in fundraising activities for the Geelong Conservation, Geelong Grammar, and notably raised $350,000 for the CFA following the 2019/20 bushfires, along with help from son Ben.

Ben has worked at Trafigura since 2007.

The commodities company is headquartered in Singapore with major regional hubs in Houston, Montevideo, Mumbai and Geneva – where it is believed Ben Luckock is located.

Trafigura has been embroiled in several controversies in recent years, including settling for $55m with the US Commodity Future Trading Commission over allegations of fuel oil manipulation earlier this year.

Ben is also a 25 per cent shareholder in the UK soccer club his brother directs, Bolton Wanderers.

The New York Times reported in 2022 that the Football Ventures agreed to issue $7.7m worth of shares in the sports team to an entity lead by Ben Luckock, BMLL Limited, at the beginning of that year.

Nick Luckock

Ben Luckock

BMLL consists of around 25 families, including other executives at Trafigura.

BMLL is represented on the Football Ventures board by Ben’s brother and the club’s director, Nick.

Neighbours in Barwon Heads say the two men visit semi-regularly, claiming they may be involved in funding the build.

Residents also say they only discovered the project after it “slipped” through council, after being classified as a “single dwelling on a single block”.

Local Bruce McColl, said the community felt the family had intentionally submitted modified plans for the house to avoid being required to advertise plans for the build publicly.

“The third floor hasn’t been submitted (to council), but it was on their website, so that was clearly the intent from the beginning,” he said.

The esteemed Victorian architect behind the project, Rob Mills, sold his own Lorne house in 2020 for $4.8m and has worked on numerous high-profile houses internationally.

He is currently working on projects in the Bahamas and on Sydeny Harbour.

Mr McColl said many of the neighbours felt the plans were completely out of step with the feeling of the quaint riverside town.

“You want to preserve that coastal feel of Barwon Heads, and if (this house) sets the precedent its going to completely change that … imagine concrete monstrosities the whole way down the river,” he said.

“People enjoy the river, at low tide people walk along here fishing and swimming.”

Bruce McColl says the plans are not in keeping with the feel of Barwon Heads. Picture: Alison Wynd

Residents said they initially found plans for a three-storey-plus-basement build published online by Rob Mills Architects.

Geelong council’s executive director of placemaking, Tennille Bradley, said plans had not yet been submitted to council for a third storey, but City Hall had issued a planning permit for the construction of a single dwelling, including a swimming pool and spa, at the four consolidated properties.

“A two-storey dwelling under 7.5m in height has been proposed at this stage,” Ms Bradley said.

Ms Bradley said earlier this week the council had received an amended planning permit application to the single dwelling for buildings and works to the sea wall and the levels associated with the private open space.

She said the amended planning application would be assessed in accordance with the requirements of the Greater Geelong Planning scheme including public notification.

The Luckock’s site is located along a stretch of the riverside in Barwon Heads with a Significant Landscape Overlay – Schedule 9 (SLO9), affecting regulations surrounding the siting and design of buildings and fences, the removal of vegetation and undertaking of earthworks.

Another Barwon Heads resident Charles Henry said the impact on the river was still a major concern for locals, saying neighbours felt the build did not comply with the SLO9, and they felt perplexed that a building permit could have been approved.

“The new development includes a basement level so in my estimation they’ll need to excavate into the river 600 cubic metres,” he said.

“Its going to affect how the water moves.”

“Plus there’s a swimming pool.”

Mr Henry said he felt if the family built a sea wall it would significantly impact the community feel of the area.

“Down here there is a public park, there are about 20 weddings there a year, a sailing club, it’s going to obstruct the outlook to the bridge for everyone,” he said.

A Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA) spokeswoman said they had already assessed the floodplain-management aspects of the application, including an amendment that included a swimming pool and spa.

Originally published as The Luckock family revealed as reclusive mega-millionaires behind controversial giant Barwon Heads mansion