Corey Worthington: 15 years since teenager’s infamous 2008 house party got out of control

A party invitation on MySpace saw 500 people descend on a house and ended with a riot and police being pelted with broken bottles, This is the inside story of Australia’s most infamous party.

COREY Worthington was an unknown schoolboy when a teenage party made him a national figure of infamy.

This week marks 15 years since Worthington, then a 16-year-old Melbourne school student, hosted a party at his Narre Warren home while his mum Jo and stepfather Stephen Delaney were holidaying on the Gold Coast.

Corey Worthington with friends after the party

In an early example of social media’s reach, the young man put an open invitation to the party on MySpace, leading to more than 500 people descending on the house on a Saturday evening in January 2008.

A riot soon broke out as revellers pelted police with broken bottles, damaging cars and surrounding property. Ultimately it was brought under control have more than 30 officers, the dog squad and the police helicopter were all brought in to quell the situation.

Corey Worthington's mother Jo and stepfather Stephen Delaney were on the Gold Coast during the party. Picture: Channel 7.

The shocking scenes made headlines around the world and turned Worthington into a cult hero, noted for his fashion sense and ubiquitous sunglasses.

He spoke to the Bulletin briefly during the chaotic days after the party while he was “being hounded by news crews in a style similar to celebrities such as Britney Spears and Paris Hilton”.

‘‘I can’t talk now, I’m running away from TV crews who have been chasing me,’’ he puffed into the phone.

‘‘Call in about an hour.’’

He never returned the call.

Teenager Corey Worthington became a figure of national infamy in early 2008

Instead, his notoriety sparked fears among Gold Coast civic leaders than local teenagers would be inspired to follow his example.

Police Superintendent Jim Keogh told the Bulletin at the time officers were ready for anyone who tried to copy Worthington and his antics.

‘‘We have the ‘party safe’ plan and if they step outside that we crack down on them pretty hard,’’ he said.

Jeff Brand, A Bond University associate professor of communication and media, warned some teenagers may try to “outdo Corey” in order to gain fame for themselves.

Party boy Corey Worthington competed in the 2018 season of Australian Ninja Warrior. Picture: Supplied/Channel 9

‘‘It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that people will be looking at this guy saying ‘if he did, so can I’,’’ he said.

‘‘There’s a culture in popular culture of people trying to ‘out-stunt’ the stunt masters.

‘‘There’s a party culture on the Gold Coast so it wouldn’t be hard to use social networking sites to facilitate that.’’

Worthington attempted to cash in on his fame, travelling to the Gold Coast in mid-2008 to appear on that year’s series of Big Brother but lasted just 10 days.

He soon faded from public view but in 2018 made a return to reality TV this time as a competitor on Australian Ninja Warrior.

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