Real estate heir spotted at controversial Byron Bae party before Queensland border crossing

For mere mortals in their 20s, life is a constant balancing act between cramming for exams, juggling part-time jobs, and paying off student debt while still finding enough funds to have some fun.

That’s not the case for media/property heir Luca Catalano, son of Antony ‘The Cat’ Catalano, the former Domain boss who now chairs Australian Community Media.

The son of media-property mogul Anthony Catalano attended a party in Byron Bay that breached the public health order.Credit: Instagram

One of Catalano’s nine children, Luca was attending college in southern California.

But he’s spent the past year back home in Australia having quite the eventful time.

Last week, Herald weekday column CBD revealed police were investigating reports of an alleged breach of public health orders. It is alleged that a party was held at the rented Byron home of Byron Bae cast member Nathan Favro on July 24, despite COVID rules banning gatherings of more than five people.

Emerald City has seen footage that appears to show Luca Catalano was one of the 16 guests at the soiree. It’s unclear if any penalty notices have been issued; a NSW Police spokesperson said “inquiries were ongoing”.

Days after the party the 20-something Catalano crossed the border to Queensland where he enjoyed some Greek nosh at Brisbane’s chi-chi Hellenika restaurant before heading north to the Whitsundays with friends James Bart and Hana Sezer. It is unknown whether Catalano and his friends had an exemption to travel to Queensland.

It seems it was something of a victory lap for Catalano, who finally returned to the US last week. Neither he nor his family responded to requests for comment.

Virus escapees descend on Byron

Catalano isn’t the only one who has been spotted living it up in Byron.

Emerald City has been told Sydney-based businessman Eitan Neishlos hired a private jet to fly to the coastal town where he was seen last week, potentially in breach of lockdown travel restrictions.

“That’s not entirely true,” Neishlos said when contacted by Emerald City but did not elaborate further despite repeated requests for clarification.

Neishlos’ trip to the Northern Rivers comes after his former fiancee, Israeli-Danish beauty Lee Levi, bid farewell to Australia.

Last week the model-cum-actress posted photos on Instagram of her stay at Hotel Royal in the hills above Evian-les-Bains in France. With Australia’s borders closed it’s unclear if Levi will return to

Sydney; last month Emerald City revealed the former couple were negotiating custody of their French bulldog Mylee.

A different kind of medicine

Former girl about town and fashion publicist Kelsea Doyle has kept a low profile in recent years after her husband was linked to an $80 million drug ring.

However, the gorgeous blonde from the Shire can be regularly seen in one unlikely spot: the lifts at Prince of Wales Private Hospital. Pictured as a hospital patient, Doyle’s image graces the electronic lift panel.

While Matthew Doyle serves a minimum of five years in jail, his wife Kelsea is raising their child in the Shire.Credit: Facebook

The last time Doyle was in the public eye was back in 2019 when her property developer husband Matthew was dramatically arrested for his alleged role in a cocaine importation plot. After pleading guilty to supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug he is now serving a five year jail term.

Kelsea Doyle’s image is currently being used in an ad campaign at Prince Of Wales private hospital.Credit: Instagram

Prior to Doyle’s downfall, the couple were familiar faces on the cliquey Sydney social scene. They tied the knot in a lavish summer wedding in 2018 overlooking the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House with a reception at Bennelong Point.

Kelsea has not been accused of any wrongdoing and currently looks after the couple’s first child at their luxury $2 million Burraneer home while her husband serves out his sentence.

A hospital spokesperson said Doyle’s photo was “one of a number taken in August 2017 for marketing purposes, which involved patients in our hospital, as well as staff and doctors.”

Demand for lifestyle ‘essentials’ remains strong in the eastern suburbs despite lockdown.Credit: Nick Moir

Looking good in lockdown

After the state government finally green-lit a ‘singles bubble’ for those living alone in lockdown, Emerald City has been inundated with tips that many society types have nominated their hairdresser, masseuse or nail-technician to join their bubble. Meanwhile hairdressers report clients are asking for sneaky at-home cut and colour sessions.

While nobody was willing to own up to making such requests, many blonde bombshells looked suspiciously salon-fresh when spotted on the Bondi to Bronte walk last week with barely a grey hair or SNS (nail) chip to be seen.

And it seems local demand for cocaine hasn’t abated either. Emerald City hears numerous text messages from dial-a-dealers touting their wares have been making the rounds during lockdown.

“ANNOUNCEMENT: BEST VACCINE [X2 snowflake emoji] IN THE WORLD TOP TOP QUALITY STUFF!!!! FU*K COVID” read one of several drug-peddling texts circulating in the eastern suburbs last week.

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