Justin Hemmes’s Merivale the mystery buyer of The Quarterdeck in Narooma
Justin Hemmes has made his first hospitality purchase on NSW’s south coast — while his head chef Jordan Toft reveals how he keeps A-listers walking through the Merivale doors.
NSW
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Entrepreneurial hospitality tsar Justin Hemmes has acquired The Quarterdeck, the popular overwater restaurant and music venue, at Narooma, in the Eurobodalla region of the NSW south coast.
The purchase has been recently rumoured by locals after increased sightings of Hemmes and his sea plane over recent weeks.
It marks Merivale’s first NSW hospitality venue outside Sydney by the billionaire hotelier, who was ranked 98th in the latest The List, Australia’s richest 250, with an estimated $1.24 billion net wealth, up from $1.21 billion in last year’s list.
“Narooma has become my second home and the backdrop to so many of my happiest memories with my family,” Hemmes said.
“I think it is one of the most beautiful spots in the world, with a unique landscape, crystal clear waters and an amazing community of people who call it home.”
Set on the shores of Forsters Bay, The Quarterdeck has been an eclectic dining institution in the Eurobodalla community for two decades.
The decor includes nautical and Tiki items as well as memorabilia from customers.
No word yet on just whether Hemmes will continue with the trademark Hawaiian shirt.
Merivale will receive the keys to the venue in late April subject to the transfer of the local and state government paperwork.
“It will trade as normal for the foreseeable future,” Hemmes advised.
The Hemmes family have owned holiday homes for more than a decade on the south coast, topped off with the acquisition in 2015 of the 60ha Glass House Rocks Estate for $7.5 million.
There have been several acquisitions at Berrara where, in 2007, he spent $4.15 million on Halcyon, a historic beach house.
CHEF SPILLS SECRETS TO WINNING HOLLYWOOD CELEBS
Jordan Toft has revealed his secret to reeling in A-listers at Merivale’s top restaurants and it’s as simple as treating them like the everyman.
The executive chef of Merivale’s luxurious suite of restaurants, including celeb favourite Mimi’s, previously ran a restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood and is familiar with B-Lister celebs “trying to break down your door to get papped”.
Toft said he ensures his restaurants treat celebrities the same as anyone else who walks in the door, saying no to private rooms and freebies — and that is the reason why the cream of the Hollywood crop turn to Merivale for wining and dining.
“A-listers just want to have a good time with friends and with family,” he told Unleashed.
“The majority of the celebrities we see here are of the upper echelon of their creative careers … they fit into the category of just going out and having a good time over (the alternative of) getting papped as their brand.
“(Meanwhile) you’ll talk to certain other celebrities and they are like the pap won’t leave me alone but then you talk to the pap, they say ‘Hang on, they are calling me for this’.”
And the perfect drawcard for big names is quality produce presented with “effortless elegance”.
“(Talking to producers) gives more empathy and understanding about what these guys have to go through to get these things to the city,” Toft, who is a NSW judge for this year’s delicious Produce Awards, said.
“It’s better for me to understand that I’m a piece of the puzzle and knowing someone’s story around (the produce) allows me to finish the story and put it on a plate.”
Now in its 16th year, the awards celebrate producers and suppliers across paddocks, dairy, earth and sea.
More than a 100 state winners are expected to make it to the national judging day.
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