By Stephen Brook and Kishor Napier-Raman
When larger-than-life media mogul and philanthropist Harold Mitchell unexpectedly died aged 81 of complications after surgery in February, the great and the good subsequently honoured him at a state memorial at Hamer Hall. Among the attendees: the premier, three former premiers, Eddie McGuire, Lindsay Fox, Jon Faine and Mick Gatto.
The media mogul’s two adult children Amanda and Stuart were the main beneficiaries of his $60 million fortune, inheriting about $40 million in assets to be put into trust.
Now they are selling Mitchell’s incredible rural retreat in Merrijig, a one-pub town at the foot of Mount Buller near Mansfield.
Anyone who knows anything of the great man and his zest for everything will not be surprised to know that the three-level timber home with soaring panelled ceilings has the feel of the alpine ski lair of larger-than-life Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
Inside the late Harold Mitchell’s country house.
Particularly the big leather armchair by the open fire where Mitchell, who founded the nation’s largest media buying agency, cried as he read the final proof of his memoir Living Large, which recalls his alcoholic mum who left the family when he was 15.
The six-bedroom, four-bathroom, two-car garage property set on 6505 square metres features truly spectacular gardens – which Mitchell himself rebuilt, thick with Australian natives, on the banks of the Delatite River – a guesthouse, butler’s pantry and old-fashioned smoko lodge, an echo of the area’s sawmilling heritage.
As the District Property Group agents boast: “Heaven for fly fishing enthusiasts or those just seeking a tranquil escape from their busy life in the city.”
Price guide? $2.95 million.
In June, the family listed Mitchell’s astonishing Spring Street apartment, with French-inspired interiors including a marble and mirrored bar that takes up the entire 11th floor and half the 10th, with views over Parliament House, Parliament Gardens and St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Harold Mitchell in his Melbourne apartment with his dog Lily.Credit: Josh Robenstone
The original price guide was $5.75 million to $6.25 million, but regular CBD readers will recall the apartment had a price drop of $1 million by August. Now it has been withdrawn from sale.
NOMAD NOWHERE
Life comes at you fast.
A week ago, Al Yazbek was one of Australia’s hottest restaurateurs, the man behind Surry Hills favourite Nomad and Melbourne’s grand new French-inspired Reine & La Rue.
But after Yazbek’s offensive decision to hold up a sign with a swastika on an Israeli flag at a pro-Palestine rally last weekend, the backlash was swift. He’s set to face court this month over allegedly displaying a Nazi symbol. He’s lost lucrative business tie-ups with Goldman Sachs, champagne brand G.H. Mumm and his venues’ spots in the Good Food Guide, published by this masthead.
And in just a week, Yazbek has churned through plenty of crisis communications people. On Thursday, calls to Nomad Group’s head office went unanswered. Seeking comment from Yazbek last week, this masthead reached out to The Cru, a restaurant PR agency which handles Nomad Group’s publicity.
Reporters were then forwarded onto Sydney-based corporate communications firm Blackwattle Media, who then handballed on to strategic-cum-corporate affairs consultancy Wilkinson Butler, who we’re told is handling Yazbek’s media.
That firm told reporters last week it would respond to a comment request, but none came. Finally, during a period of Friday afternoon known as “taking out the trash hour”, Yazbek put out a statement where he apologised “unequivocally” for his actions. We suspect the damage might already be done.
ROYAL FLUSH
CBD has long been keeping an eye on King Charles III’s impending visit to these shores, and with His Majesty due to land in Sydney on Friday evening, the royal itinerary has sharpened into focus.
Saturday is designated as a rest day for the monarch, who cut short the trip following a cancer diagnosis earlier this year, and is travelling Down Under accompanied by an army of doctors.
But Saturday is also the day of The Everest, the brash $20 million baby of Racing NSW head honcho Peter “Showbags” V’landys, whose long campaign to usurp Victoria’s spring racing carnival would be given an all-time boost by a royal visit to Royal Randwick.
V’landys, who met the late Queen months before her death, named a $5 million race, the King Charles Stakes, after his majesty, and has always been quietly confident about getting him to the Everest, even as Charles’ trip was shortened.
On Sunday, the King’s attendance at next week’s Everest remained unconfirmed. But old Showbags is still hopeful. As we’re sure he will be until the very end.
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