Luxury superyachts the ultimate big boy’s toy of Australia’s super rich
From jacuzzis and day spas to outdoor cinemas and private butlers, the superyacht is the ultimate “big boy’s toy”. See how some of Australia’s wealthiest men set sail.
Fiona Byrne
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Forget private jets, the superyacht is the ultimate “big boy’s toy”.
Superyachts are arguably the ultimate status symbol of wealth and luxury, providing their high net worth owners with privacy and the ability to enjoy the world’s elite summer seaside locations in comfort and high style.
Some of Australia’s richest men have superyachts among their assets.
Clive Palmer invested a rumoured $40m in 2021 in a stunning 56m superyacht named Australia.
The sleek vessel, built in Italy and launched in 2012, has had a couple of name changes, previously being known as Bash and Ulysses, before Palmer added it to his fleet and renamed it Australia.
It can house up to 12 guests and a similar number of crew.
Australia has been a visitor to Melbourne in recent years, being hard to miss when parked at the superyacht berth at the Docklands.
Palmer also owns a smaller, but no less luxurious, yacht named Nancy Jean. He purchased the 37m vessel, which was built in 2008 and can sleep eight guests, in 2020 for an estimated $8.3m.
He renamed the Sunseeker as Nancy-Jean in honour of his mother who passed away in 2014.
Melbourne entrepreneur David Russell turned heads when he brought his magnificent 75m superyacht Lady E into Port Phillip Bay in 2021.
Russell, who was educated at Brighton Grammar and Monash University, sold Equis Energy, which he founded in 2011, for $7bn in 2017.
The superyacht was named Lady E after his wife Elena.
Lady E underwent an extensive refit in 2020, which included a 6m extension to create a water-level beach club space. It accommodates 12 guests and 22 crew and features four levels of spacious decks, a chic interior spiral staircase and elevator, bedroom suites featuring Hermes carpets and furnishings, a day spa, Turkish hammam, fully equipped gym, heated on-board pool, dining and lounge areas, private study and all manner of water sports toys including a water slide, aqua park, jet skis, SeaBobs, flyboard and diving equipment.
In 2021 the going rate to charter the vessel was $1.3m a week
Boat International reported in November 2023 that the vessel had been sold. While no sale price was revealed, unofficial reports estimate Lady E to be worth around $70m.
Melbourne-based retail billionaire Solomon Lew’s superyacht, Maridome, is often seen in the Mediterranean.
The vessel is highly regarded in the superyacht community with Boat International including it in its list of 40 of the most significant superyachts from the past 40 years.
Maridome was built in 1989 for US businessman Bennett LeBow and was originally named Stefaren. Lew acquired the prized vessel in 2006.
Australian waste management tycoon and superyacht enthusiast Ian Malouf owns several high profile, luxury vessels.
Malouf, who owns Ahoy Club, a superyacht chartering and luxury boat dealership business, has Mischief, a 52m vessel which he purchased in 2015 in his fleet along with the breathtaking Coral Ocean.
Malouf acquired the 73m Coral Ocean in 2019 for a reported $US50 million ($A74 million) and gave it an extensive refurbishment.
Another Melbourne business great with a superyacht among his toys is Lindsay Fox.
The trucking magnate has Volpini 2, a 57.7m superyacht that he acquired in 2018.
The enormous 82m superyacht Ilona is a jewel among billionaire Westfield founder Frank Lowy’s treasures. The vessel was built for Lowry by Amels in the Netherlands and launched in 2003.
The superyacht is named after Lowy’s mother.
The Packer family is noted for its affection for superyachts.
James Packer is often seen relaxing in international locations on his stunning vessel IJE.
The sleek 108m vessel was built by Benetti and delivered to Packer in July 2019.
It is named after Packer’s three children: Indigo, Jackson, and Emmanuelle.
Gretel Packer, the sister of James, is also a boat owner. She has the Arctic P, the former ice breaker made famous as a luxury private superyacht by her late father, Australian media magnate Kerry Packer, on her books.
Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest purchased the 58.22m superyacht Pangaea Ocean Explorer in 2018.
The vessel has since had multiple laboratories and specialist research equipment installed and is being used for marine research projects.
Australian entrepreneur Brett Blundy purchased the glamorous superyacht Cloud 9 in April 2022.
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