Double Bay: Julian Tobias convicted after dance floor affray allegedly involving James Byrnes

A Bondi Beach bar boss who allegedly had a dance floor scrap with a one-time financial adviser to billionaire Alan Bond has been convicted. Here’s what we know.

Tobias is one of the most prominent nightclub owners in the eastern suburbs. Picture: Christian Gilles

A bar boss who allegedly had a dance floor scrap with a one-time financial adviser to billionaire Alan Bond has been convicted.

Julian Nathan Tobias failed to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday, which is currently sitting at the James Maddison Tower, after he pleaded not guilty to affray.

When Tobias failed to appear, Magistrate Megan Greenwood convicted the 44-year-old in his absence and fined him $1100.

Tobias, of Bondi Beach, and Sydney businessman James Warren Herbert Byrnes, known as ‘Big Jim’, 65, 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 used to date 19-year-old OnlyFans model Paris Ow-Yang.

Byrnes has pleaded not guilty to common assault and affray charges.

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

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

Tobias has more than 20,000 Instagram followers.

Byrnes, of Darling Point, pleaded not guilty in May to common assault and affray charges in relation to the incident and he has a hearing date set for March 23 next year.

Tobias is one of the most prominent nightclub owners in the eastern suburbs, entering the night-life business almost two decades ago when he launched The Club, Potts Point.

He has more than 20,000 Instagram followers and is a permanent fixture on the social scene.

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