No dampeners as ‘Aussie’ John Symond attracts the social elite

Wet weather couldn’t keep the social elite from one of the great fixtures of the Australian social calendar | PICTURES

Amber and John Symond welcome Christmas party guests at their Point Piper home. Picture: Brianne Makin

It’s one of the great fixtures of the Australian social calendar: “Aussie” John Symond’s Christmas party at his extravagant waterfront Point Piper mansion.

And with Symond’s 2700sq m property on the market, with a mooted $100 million-plus price tag, last night’s Chrissie knees-up could be his last — at least at this venue.

Unfortunately the weather gods didn’t get the memo.

Yet such are Symond and wife Amber’s powers as hosts that a mighty crowd ventured to their mansion despite the wet weather.

Wild horses couldn’t stop stalwarts John Howard and his wife, Janette, although fellow former PM Bob Hawke and wife Blanche d’Alpuget sent their apologies.

Janette and John Howard were all smiles. Picture: Brianne Makin

As the Qantas Girls Choir sang before the Symonds’s white Christmas tree, embracing the festive spirit was NSW Premier Mike Baird and wife Kerryn, along with Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, just back from the Gold Coast and the announcement that DC Comics’ ­Aqua­man would be filmed there.

Seven scion Ryan Stokes and his new bride, Claire, were also there for the celebration, along with the network’s Warwick Smith and wife Kathryn. ­Symond’s fellow Point Piper resident Bruce McWilliam — Seven’s top legal mind — was there too.

Premier Mike Baird and wife Kerryn at the party. Picture: Brianne Makin

Commonwealth Bank chief Ian Narev joined the party, along with his head of retail banking Matt Comyn (Narev’s possible successor), as well as Infrastructure NSW chair Graham Bradley, Liberal Party strategist Mark Textor and rich-lister Charles Curran.

Ryan Stokes, wife Clare, Kathryn Smith and husband Warwick. Picture: Brianne Makin

Macquarie chief Nicholas Moore, who replaced Symond as the chair of the Sydney Opera House Trust, ventured in too, fresh from launching the bank’s rival Tatts bid the day before, while fellow Sydney Opera House trustee Helen Coonan was just off the plane from Perth and a milestone Crown Resorts board meeting.