By Stephen Brook and Cara Waters
Who is the biggest petrolhead among the Melbourne elite?
As far as we can make out it is a tussle between former governor Linda Dessau, Lord Mayor Sally Capp and Rupert Murdoch’s niece, Herald and Weekly Times chair Penny Fowler.
Former governor of Victoria Linda Dessau with husband Tony Howard.Credit: Joe Armao
Dessau was an earlyish arrival at the exclusive corporate hospo enclave the Paddock Club with her lawyer spouse, Tony Howard, who asked of your columnists: “Are you going to be nice about us this time?” Hmmm, get back to you on that one, Tony.
Turns out Dessau is a proud petrolhead. “I love this event. It’s the most brilliant event for Melbourne.”
She said she was barracking for Oscar Piastri but her fandom extended beyond the Aussie hopeful. “I’m a Drive to Survive fan … Toto’s [Wolff] a real favourite.”
Capp was determined not to pull rank and waited her turn in the queue for the trackside pit lane walk. “Linda is a real fan following a conversion after Drive to Survive,” Capp said.
HWT chair Penny Fowler at the grand prix with incoming Myer executive chair Olivia Wirth.Credit: Joe Armao
She said she loved the excitement the race generated. “I was here on Friday morning and people were running from their share cars to get to the gate.”
In the Chairman’s Club, Fowler stopped mid-conversation with incoming Myer executive chairman Olivia Wirth to assert her credentials. “(Former Australian Grand Prix chief executive) Ron Walker was a very good friend and mentor of mine. I have been coming for 20 years – long before Drive To Survive.”
NO ENTRY GILL
Security was incredibly tight after last year’s track invasion, and even former AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan was not immune. The big man, nearly 200 centimetres tall, clambered up to the rooftop viewing platform overlooking the start of the big race and attempted to gain admission to the Marriott Bonvoy platform. But no dice – he wasn’t wearing the correct wristband.
Gillon McLachlan with MCG chief Stuart Fox and MCC president Fred Oldfield.Credit: Joe Armao
Heads of all the rival sport events were there comparing and contrasting, including Australian Open chief executive Craig Tiley, Victoria Racing Club chief executive Steve Rosich and AFL head Andrew Dillon, who quipped: “How can I be a petrolhead? I can’t drive a manual car.”
In the chairman’s lounge, Prince Hotel owner Andy Ryan was chatting with former grand prix boss Andrew Westacott, kindly invited by his successor Travis Auld.
The Paramount+ suite included Network Ten stars Grant Denyer and Angela Bishop, who correctly tipped a Ferrari win, while Ten star and KISS FM radio presenter Jackie O nabbed a prime trackside position to prep ahead of her move to muscle in on Melbourne’s radio breakfast show market.
FASHION ON THE GRID
Grand prix eventists are never quite sure how to pitch their race-day outfits.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton opted for a floral look.Credit: Joe Armao
We reckon former PwC chief executive Luke Sayers’ dark blue polo, spotless white chinos and white Gucci sneakers were on point.
Governor Margaret Gardner was spotted traipsing through the Marriott Bonvoy Lounge mid-race (surely not heading for the exit already?). The King’s representative in Victoria simply couldn’t be putting her VIP lanyards around her vice-regal neck – they were instead tied to her handbag.
Former premier Steve Bracks’ special grand prix cufflinks, a gift from Ron Walker.Credit: Stephen Brook
Melbourne Fashion Festival chair Launa Inman, former chief executive of Target, rocked a cropped leather jacket, while former premier Steve Bracks flashed special grand prix cufflinks which were a gift from former grand prix chair Walker.
But maximum race points go to Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton in his weekend civvies, cargo pants, shades and a floral paisley shirt. But relax, Victoria – it might have been florals, but he was still in blue.
Grand prix ambassador and model Annalise Dalins was sticking to the shade with partner footballer Josh Daicos (appearing after Collingwood’s Sunday training session, mind you) due to choosing to wear a black leather ensemble which was heating up in the late afternoon Melbourne sunshine.
AUSTRALIA’S MOST UNOBTRUSIVE BILLIONAIRE
In the Paddock Club, no one gave a second glance to the well-built figure in jeans and a black T-shirt walking among them – Australia’s most unobtrusive billionaire, Ed Craven. The digital economy mogul, aged in his late 20s, is estimated to be worth more than $2 billion and founded the online cryptocurrency casino stake.com, which is based in Melbourne but barred from operating in Australia.
“This event really puts Melbourne on the map. This is when the rest of the world sees Melbourne at its most spectacular. It is quite exciting to know that Melbourne is our city,” he said enthusiastically.
Ed Craven inside the Kick Sauber suite at the Australian Grand Prix.Credit: Joe Armao
Craven, who hit the headlines with not one, but two local mansion purchases, has spent a fortune sponsoring the Sauber team, formerly Alfa Romeo. It races here as Kick Sauber, as Craven’s live-streaming platform Kick has secondary naming rights. His ambition was plain to see.
“We are pushing at the limits of what a sponsorship and activation can look like,” he said. Watch this space.
WHEN POLITICS MEETS BUSINESS
The Marriott Bonvoy Lounge was heaving with politicians, business and union heavyweights enjoying the Moet champagne, Patron tequila bar and pop-up outpost of Chris Lucas’ Society restaurant.
Former premier Steve Bracks (left) and grand prix chair Martin Pakula on Sunday.Credit: Joe Armao
Making his debut as Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman, Martin Pakula popped in, confessing he was unable to relax – a prescient sentiment given the drama yet to unfold on the racetrack.
“I asked Gill (McLachlan): ‘Did you ever enjoy an AFL grand final?’ He said, no. I’ll enjoy it at 5pm,” Pakula said.
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll was basking in the glow of a government that has just spent a significant amount of money on a major event.
“We have to be challenging Silverstone now as one of the biggest grands prix, if not the biggest grand prix in the world, so we’re very excited,” he said. “Melbourne’s one of the one or two places in the world that has a grand prix, plus the Australian Open a couple of months apart – add to that Taylor Swift and P!nk.”
Venture capital boss Ben Gray and his wife, Victorian Labor MP Luba Grigorovitch, were patiently queuing for the Marriott Bonvoy toilets and enthusiastically endorsed the race.
Also spotted at Marriott were fellow venture capitalist Paul Bassat, Seek co-founder and head of Square Peg; chef Shane Delia in a black T-shirt and sporting an impressive pair of biceps; and Trades Hall boss Luke Hilakari, who instinctively worked the room.
A special moment for all who saw was Steve Dimopoulos’ spontaneous dancing on the track when the DJs played before the race started. The minister for tourism, sport and major events really can move like Jagger.
Australian Open boss Craig Tiley at the Australian Grand Prix. Credit: Joe Armao
STEAKS AND STRIPPERS
The Australian Grand Prix loves to highlight how high female interest is in the event, boasting that of last year’s estimated 444,631 spectators, 39 per cent were women. However, the grand prix calculates its own attendance figures, which are notoriously rubbery.
It’s unclear exactly how the organisation works out the gender split, given that it isn’t evident from grand prix tickets, and a quick glance around Albert Park shows attendees are overwhelmingly male, which translates into a surge in business for steak houses and strip clubs around the city.
At the Botanical Hotel in South Yarra, the bar sells more Negronis during the grand prix than in Negroni week, along with about 200 kilograms of porterhouse steak, eye fillet and scotch fillets throughout the weekend.
Restaurateur Chris Lucas at his restaurant Society in the Melbourne CBD.Credit: AFR
That’s double the amount of steak the restaurant usually sells.
It’s a similar story at Society in Melbourne’s city centre, where the chef ordered in 150 kilograms of “sharing steaks”, up from the standard weekend of 80 kilograms.
“Everyone comes from interstate and has heard about Society,” Lucas says. “They want to go to the best restaurants, and it’s set up, it’s got private rooms, so Ferrari is in there, all the teams are using the private rooms.”
Men’s Gallery owner Peter Iwaniuk says Melbourne’s nighttime economy gets a “huge injection” from the grand prix, with a 30 per cent increase in business.
“To help us entertain the huge influx of visitors to Melbourne, dancers from all over Australia will also flood the stage,” he says.
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