Darren ‘Razzle’ Thornburgh found dead in home on Victorian-NSW border
MELBOURNE nightclub king Darren “Razzle” Thornburgh’s ex wife has hit out at “disco idiots”, asking where they had been before his tragic death. Thornburgh was battling ice addiction leading up to his death.
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A NIGHTCLUB king found dead in his rural holiday house had been battling ice addiction and spent time in rehab leading up to his death.
The Herald Sun has learned Darren “Razzle” Thornburgh, 54, sought professional help for long-term substance abuse about two weeks ago.
DRUG ABUSE, MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN PUT KING OF CLUBS ON PATH TO SAD DEMISE
SHOTS FIRED AT BOUTIQUE NIGHTCLUB IN PRAHRAN
POLICE CONFIRM SHOTS FIRED AT BOUTIQUE NIGHTCLUB
The father-of-two was also left “blindsided” when an apparent tenancy dispute recently saw his high-profile Prahran nightclub Boutique closed.
Mr Thornburgh had previously been at odds with the Comanchero bikie gang and is understood to have been facing serious financial difficulties in the months leading up to his death.
He had also been due to front court in March over charges relating to his personal life.
The Herald Sun has been told Mr Thornburgh had for years battled a cocaine addiction and was a prolific user of ice — his life “going downhill quite fast” following a split with his wife.
As recently as last week Mr Thornburgh was rearranging his financial affairs, with official paperwork showing he’d tinkered with his elaborate corporate structure.
Mr Thornburgh’s body was found on the veranda of his rural home at Barmah, about 250km north of Melbourne, on Monday afternoon.
He also owned the Barmah Hotel opposite, where devastated staff watched in disbelief as detectives dealt with the tragedy.
Police on Tuesday confirmed his death was not suspicious.
Mr Thornburgh’s ex-wife Denise Foster late on Tuesday hit out at “disco idiots” and asked where they had been before the tragedy.
“Could all you disco idiots out there have some respect and integrity for his children,” Ms Foster posted online.
“Integrity for his children.
“Where the f##k we’re (sic) you all?”
Friends of Mr Thornburgh recalled his partying lifestyle.
“I’m surprised he didn’t have a heart attack with his drug use,’’ one friend said.
“He would party from Wednesday until Monday and sleep Monday and Tuesday.
“That was his life and that went on for years.
“I feel really sorry for his daughters and his ex-wife because he put them through a hell of a lot.”
The friend said Mr Thornburgh used Barmah as “a way for him to get away to detox”.
“It was his paradise,’’ the friend said. “He would go up there, have a small relax and feel good about himself and then come back and start partying.”
Mr Thornburgh had grown fearful of his safety after his Port Melbourne family home and Greville St club were shot up in October last year.
It’s understood he went into hiding at a beachside caravan park after the attacks, suspected to be bikies chasing debts.
Mr Thornburgh faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in March this year facing charges over a personal matter.
He pleaded guilty and was placed on a good behaviour bond without conviction.
The busboy-turned-tycoon’s life spun into further turmoil several weeks ago when it’s understood Boutique’s tenancy unexpectedly ceased.
“He had been thrown out — I don’t think he saw it coming,’’ the friend said.
“He had lost his business. It’s that rock star story. He lived this incredible life, then the drugs got him and everything just turned bad.
“The best way to describe him is he was the best person to have on your side and the worst person not to be on his side.
“He did a lot of incredible things in his life.
“He was known as the nightclub king and I think he forever will be.”
Mr Thornburgh had overcome business difficulties before, getting back on his feet after a 2011 bankruptcy battle.
A former close acquaintance said many of those in Mr Thornburgh’s circle started to drift away because of his sometimes “paranoid” and aggressive tendencies over recent years.
But he said he was an excellent businessman who lived life in the club scene like a “rock star”.
“No one could run a nightclub better,” he said. “He loved the industry.”
Insp Joy Arbuthnot said local police discovered Mr Thornburgh’s body in a “routine inspection”.
The weapon used in the incident was discovered at the scene.
Police were still investigating the circumstances that led to Mr Thornburgh’s death.
Those needing help can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, or beyondblue.
LOCALS IN SHOCK OVER DEATH
BARMAH locals told the Herald Sun Mr Thornburgh had been in the town in recent days and had been acting out of character.
One neighbour said the nightclub owner would visit the Evans St property only “a couple” of times a month before returning to Melbourne.
“He normally comes up here, blasts his music and has a couple of drinks at the pub then goes,” the neighbour said.
“But he’d been at the place for more than a week before he was found.”
Police officers visited Mr Thornburgh’s Barmah Hotel on Monday afternoon and talked to staff, who were visibly distressed afterwards.
One staff member said: “We’re a little community ... we all knew Darren. It’s very sad and I’m sorry, but we’re all just really shocked right now. We can’t say any more.”
A devastated friend of Mr Thornburgh told the Herald Sun on Monday night: “He was a man who was highly respected in his prime accomplishing things that most people could only dream of doing.”
The Herald Sun has been told Mr Thornburgh had spent an extended period living in Crown Casino some years ago.
Some who knew him said they could not believe he would take his own life.
Kelly Lewis, a close friend of Thornburgh’s for over a decade, said the death had shocked Barmah and the town would miss Mr Thornburgh dearly.
“He used to come up here to get away from the stress of work in Melbourne,” she said.
“He would come up with his two girls and enjoy some time out on the water.
“He always had big plans for the town. He wanted to put Barmah on the map.”
The nightclub mogul had his Evans St property maintained by a number of staff over the years.
Cleaner Linda, who has worked at the regional home for ten years, said the high-profile Thornburgh was always polite and was generous with his time and money.
“Darren was a genuinely nice guy and I never had a problem with him,” she said.
DEATH FOLLOWED DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS, BIKIE CONFLICT
A BACKDROP of shooting attacks on Boutique and his ex-wife’s property in 2016 have meant police are conducting an intensive investigation into the circumstances of his death.
That is likely to include whether there was an ongoing threat after the 2016 drive-by shootings.
They were suspected of being carried out by bikies although the motive remains unclear.
One source said Mr Thornburgh had been at odds with the Comanchero motorcycle gang years before the drive-by attacks but that conflict was smoothed over.
Mr Thornburgh has two daughters — Mia, 15 who is living with her mum in Port Melbourne and Zoe, 23, who does modelling and lives in Bali.
Mr Thornburgh was made bankrupt in 2011 after reportedly owing the Australian Taxation Office more than $100,000.
Documents lodged with the Federal Magistrates’ Court, specialist law firm Taussig Cherrie and Associates had claimed he owed it $16,322 after a Magistrates’ Court debt ruling on April 13, 2010.
Boutique was the celebrity hot spot for the best part of a decade, entertaining every Australian celebrity and internationals such as Paris Hilton, who danced on tables when she went to the club.
About two years ago Mr Thornburgh’s popular Friday Night Flash, which was the big money night of the nightclub, started to lose patronage, so he shut the club for so-called “renovations.”
Since then there have been various new nights that have started at Boutique, but nothing has captured the imagination of the Melbourne nightclub and celebrity elite.
Authorities had been tipped off that there had been a disturbance at the property about 4.30pm.
Police combed the property on Monday night for clues.
Last year, detectives were probing whether an organised crime gang chasing debts was responsible for a drive-by shooting at Mr Thornburgh’s ex-wife’s home in Port Melbourne.
His 13-year-old daughter and his ex-wife Denise were home when it was peppered with shotgun blasts in October 2016.
Detectives labelled the driveby attack “cowardly” and “reckless” after four shots penetrated the home close to bedrooms.
That shooting happened after another incident linked to Mr Thornburgh the week before when a gunman fired a 12-gauge long arm shotgun at his Prahran nightclub, Boutique.
Anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.gov.au
Those needing help can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, or beyondblue.
