A beauty queen, a failed hotel and the ghosts of Gordon Gekko

A Melbourne model who was crowned Miss Universe Australia last week is the eldest daughter of two property developers who went bankrupt owing $100 million and has 10 companies herself that are in the sights of the nation’s financial regulator.

Moraya Wilson is the sole director and shareholder of 10 companies, but her representatives told this masthead she was unaware of her role in a proposed hotel development in Melbourne’s south-east.

Moraya Wilson is crowned Miss Universe Australia.

Moraya is the daughter of bankrupt property developers Anton and Melinda Wilson. The network of construction and hospitality companies was founded in November 2020, according to records filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

They were part of a proposal to build a hotel in Noble Park, which never proceeded.

Wyndham NP Constructions Pty Ltd, one of the companies owned by Moraya Wilson according to ASIC documents, is liable for a $13,204 debt to the Australian Tax Office. All 10 companies are the subject of “strike-off action” by the corporate regulator.

When this masthead attempted to contact Wilson directly, two sources close to the Miss Universe Australia winner responded on her behalf, insisting that she was oblivious to her roles as director, secretary and shareholder of the companies.

Bankrupt property developers Anton and Melinda Wilson in 2010.Credit: Wayne Taylor

“Moraya has absolutely nothing to do with this. She’s a kid. She only found out about these companies when you messaged her,” said a family friend who asked not to be identified.

Wilson did not respond directly to questions regarding her involvement in the companies behind the hotel venture. A spokesperson cited legal reasons for her silence.

Moraya Wilson was chosen from 24 finalists to represent Australia at the Miss Universe pageant to be held in El Salvador in November. The Australian event was staged at the Sofitel Melbourne on September 1.

ASIC would not confirm why the companies linked to the 21-year-old social media influencer and model were being deregistered. However, a spokeswoman said the action was usually taken when companies had not paid annual review fees, responded to compliance notices, or lodged corporate documents with the regulator.

Friends of Moraya Wilson say she knows nothing about the companies under her name.

Moraya’s mother, Melinda Wilson, who was declared bankrupt in December 2022 with debts of $39 million, also refused to comment.

Anton Wilson, who was declared bankrupt in 2017 with debts of $61 million, denied any role in the companies registered in his eldest daughter’s name.

“Not mine, shit no. I can’t control a company if I’m bankrupt. I’ve got about 18 months to go, so I can’t control any companies,” he said.

Anton Wilson suggested his daughter could explain her involvement in the companies and urged this masthead to contact her.

“Mate, f---ed if I know. Give her [Moraya] a ring. You need to do some more homework bud. She might just tell you to get f---ed. That’s what these young kids say today,” Wilson said.

ASIC disqualified Anton Wilson and his ex-wife Melinda from managing any company for five years in March 2022, following the collapse of nine companies with debts of $45 million, including more than $20 million to the tax office.

ASIC found that Anton Wilson had operated six companies while still an undischarged bankrupt, while Melinda had acted as a straw director for three companies and enabled her former husband to engage in serious misconduct.

This masthead revealed in 2018 that Anton Wilson had become the partner of a state government agency in a proposed luxury ski resort project, despite being disqualified from managing a corporation because of his bankruptcy.

Weeks after the story was published, the Mount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board announced Wilson and his company, Mider Property Group, had been dumped from the $26 million redevelopment.

Wilson styled himself on Wall Street character Gordon Gekko, including his slicked-back hairstyle, tailored suits and his signature catchphrase, “greed is good”.

In a nod to his idol, Wilson even renamed several ill-fated ventures after fictional businesses in the movie Wall Street and its sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps just days before they were placed into external administration in 2015.

Two of the collapsed companies in his Mider Property Group were named after Anacott Steel and Teldar Paper – stocks that Michael Douglas’ character manipulated as part of an insider trading scam in the hit 1987 film.

Wall Street villain Gordon Gekko.

Others were rebranded Churchill Schwartz and Keller Zabel, the investment banks portrayed in the sequel.

Wilson’s admiration for Gekko was raised in the Supreme Court during a lawsuit relating to his failed businesses, where Wilson’s actions were branded by a former business partner’s lawyer as “having a little laugh”.

“[He’s] saying, ‘Look, I can do what I want. I’m the Gordon Gekko of the Supreme Court, I’ll slick my hair back and do what I want’, and we would say, your honour, it’s beyond the pale,” barrister Martin Garrett said.

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