Memorial to be held for Hobart property kingpin Ali Sultan who passed away after bushwalking
Hobart property developer Ali Sultan will be remembered at a memorial service to be held next week, with some spaces still available for the community to pay their respects. HOW TO ATTEND >>
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A PUBLIC memorial service to mark the life and achievements of well respected Hobart property developer Ali Sultan will be held next week.
The 73-year-old died last month of a heart attack while walking on kunanyi/Mount Wellington.
A group of passers-by performed CPR on Mr Sultan before paramedics arrived.The development giant has been remembered by many in the community as a kind and gentle man of great ambition and perseverance.
Following a private funeral last month, Mr Sultan’s family will now host a public memorial service at Wrest Point Casino next Friday 26th from 3.30pm to honour his life, achievements and contribution to the community.
Speakers will include Mr Sultan’s family, Premier Peter Gutwein, former premier Lara Giddings, and friends and business associates Steve Yannarakis and David Rose.
Mr Sultan’s son Moe Sultan said while many tickets had already been allocated for family, friends and those in the business community, there were still about 350 tickets available for other members of the public who wish to attend.
“We are pleased to be able to pull this event together to be able to honour dad despite the limitations in place due to COVID-19 and we’re very grateful for the help from Wrest Point,” he said.
To register for a free ticket to the memorial visit click here.
INITIAL STORY, JAN 25:
HOBART’S property development giant Ali Sultan passed away on Sunday while bushwalking on Mt Wellington.
His eldest son, Moe Sultan, wrote this tribute piece on behalf of the family:
It is with extreme sadness that the family wishes to announce the passing yesterday in Hobart of our father Mr Ali Sultan.
Mr Sultan was the head of Sultan Holdings, a family owned property group with long held connection to the City of Hobart.
Ali was a loved father, grandfather and a friend and confidant to many hundreds of Hobartians.
His wife, Christine, daughter Sonia and sons Moe and Saleh extend their gratitude to family and friends who have gathered to offer condolences.
Ali was a huge contributor to numerous charities and a wise mentor to many aspiring business owners and helper of not for profit causes all over the city.
Commencing from a family business in the outer lying suburbs through grit and determination and the love of his city Ali quickly established himself and his property group as being prepared to take on the big challenges of the revival of Hobart’s central business district, scarred by the Myer fire and challenged from a sense of despondency and negativity about the future.
He always retained a fundamental faith in Hobart’s future and was instrumental in what Hobart is today.
The Wellington Centre and Wellington Clinics, the Vodafone development and perhaps the jewel in the Crown the Salamanca site on Montpellier Retreat, are testimony to his determination to advance the city’s interests well beyond a sense of profit making.
A private funeral will be conducted this week and whilst our family would welcome the opportunity for the broader community to honour Ali’s life and achievements, we recognise the challenges COVID-19 continues to present in conducting events with large gatherings.
INITIAL REPORT:
HOBART’S development giant Ali Sultan has been remembered as a kind and gentle man who showed great ambition and perseverance.
Sultan Holdings Pty Ltd paid tribute to its founder who passed away at the weekend while walking on kunanyi/Mt Wellington, a place they said he dearly loved.
It is understood a group of bushwalkers attempted CPR on Mr Sultan following a heart attack before flight paramedics arrived.
A statement from the company said as per Mr Sultan’s wishes, the business he established will continue to operate in its current form.
When he migrated from Lebanon to Australia in 1969, Mr Sultan arrived with just $200 in his pocket.
He relocated to Hobart in 1972 with his Tasmanian wife and started with a corner store in Claremont.
Later purchases included a steel yard, before he moved into the fruit wholesaling business and small supermarkets, then began building carparks and accommodation developments.
He also raised four children.
In 2001, he built the $3.5 million Savoy Hotel on the corner of Collins and Elizabeth streets.
Having bought the property for $800,000 from Westpac, he sold it seven years ago for about $8 million.
His property portfolio has also included the Commonwealth Bank building on Elizabeth St, the Mantra Hotel on Collins St and the Wellington Centre on Argyle St.
He owns several car parks including at Market Place, Bathurst St and Montpelier Retreat.
Setbacks and legal battles had prevented Mr Sultan from transforming the Montpelier Retreat site into an $80 million retail and accommodation development, which he had previously described as being his ‘jewel in the crown’ project.
State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson extended the government’s sympathies to the Sultan family.
“I knew Ali well – [he was] a marvellous person and a real gentle man – a kind man with a big heart,” he said.
“He often was very modest and quiet in the way he would express himself.
“He made a major contribution to the landscape and economy of Hobart and Tasmania. I loved his ability to persevere and work through issues as a developer, but more than anything else, I grieve his passing because he really was a lovely person.”
Family friend of 50 years Garry Howes said Tasmania had lost a “great man of compassion and vision, a real life Sultan.”
“Ali gave freely of his knowledge and skills to migrant families as well as providing employment opportunities,” Mr Howes said.
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