Double Bay: James ‘Big Jim’ Byrnes and Julian Tobias to fight dance floor affray charges

A one-time financial adviser to billionaire Alan Bond and a bar boss are set to fight charges after they allegedly had a dance floor scrap. Here’s what we know.

Big Jim has pleaded not guilty to common assault and affray.

A one-time financial adviser to billionaire Alan Bond and a bar boss are set to fight charges after they allegedly had a dance floor scrap.

Sydney businessman James Warren Herbert Byrnes, known as ‘Big Jim’, 65, faced the Downing Centre Local Court in May where he pleaded not guilty to affray and common assault.

The charges were laid 18-months after the alleged altercation in Double Bay.

Byrnes, of Darling Point, and bar boss Julian Tobias, 44, allegedly went head to head at the Bedouin nightclub dance floor about 10.45pm on Melbourne Cup Day in 2023.

The club is partially owned by Tobias, who use to date 19-year-old OnlyFans model Paris Ow-Yang.

Tobias partially owns the Bedouin nightclub.

The incident happened after Byrnes allegedly assaulted a patron whom he allegedly witnessed touching an intoxicated woman.

Police allege Tobias, who was working as a DJ, and a friend of the patron intervened which resulted in Byrnes and Tobias allegedly exchanging blows.

The common assault charge relates to a club patron, not Tobias.

Outside Bedouin restaurant, Double Bay. Picture: Richard Dobson

Tobias was also charged with affray and has pleaded not guilty, with his case being adjourned to July 28.

Byrnes previously declined to comment on the alleged incident but stated that he was a “big believer” in women’s rights.

He has a hearing date set for March 23.

Got a story tip? Email [e-mail]