Markets 
Alleged wife abuser Antony Catalano has snapped up prime commercial real estate in Byron Bay as part of his plans to further expand his hospitality empire in the upmarket town frequented by high-flyers and A-list celebrities.
A flurry of activity has unfolded around the controversial businessman’s financial affairs since his arrest in March, after Catalano was accused of assaulting his wife, Stefanie, in their inner-Melbourne penthouse apartment. He faces charges including unlawful imprisonment, making threats to kill, recklessly causing injury and four counts of assault.
Financial records seen by this masthead reveal Catalano has spent $17.35 million to take possession of key commercial components of the new Bonobo by Raes luxury resort in the heart of Byron Bay, where the father of nine shares a home with his wife and four youngest children.
A source connected to the deal, but who declined to comment publicly, said mortgages taken out in recent weeks over at least two other high-profile Catalano-controlled assets in the NSW holiday town had provided the money to allow him to now settle on the Bonobo deal.
The new luxury development, across the street from his Raes on Wategos resort, contains 41 apartments, as well as a rooftop pool, wellness centre, and retail and dining spaces.
The fresh loans taken out against Raes and nearby land earmarked for construction of a $29 million family compound have previously been revealed by this masthead.
The source close to the latest property deal said those assets were provided as security for the Bonobo funding. A mortgage over Raes on Wategos is already held by Westpac.
Emerging details of Catalano’s interwoven financial structures come as the entrepreneurial businessman, who owns regional and rural digital media empire Australian Community Media in a 50-50 split with billionaire Alex Waislitz, continues to prepare his response to criminal charges relating to the alleged March assault of his third wife.
Police allege the 59-year-old swung a clothes iron at his wife’s head, unlawfully imprisoned her in their St Kilda home, threatened to stab her to death, and choked or strangled her. The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court has also heard that CCTV footage shows Catalano dragging his wife, who was later admitted to hospital with a broken tailbone, by her hair and ankles.
The pair had previously been separated, but reunited this year before the alleged assault. Following the March incident, the pair separated again. In June, Catalano’s bail conditions were altered to allow him to visit Byron Bay, where his wife and their children live, and in recent weeks, several sources close to the couple have confirmed that they have once again reconciled.
Since buying Raes on Wategos in 2013, Catalano has leveraged the Raes brand to build a tourism and hospitality empire that includes other properties in Byron Bay and Bali, a luxury yacht and previously a charter plane.
The latest addition, Bonobo by Raes, which opened last month, operates as a boutique hotel fully managed under a contractual arrangement by Catalano’s Raes team.
According to the developer Podia, there are still five apartments for sale in the project priced from $2.25 million each. Catalano has not bought any apartments in the development. Under the $17.35 million deal settled in June, Catalano now owns all the common areas to the resort and its ground-floor retail component comprising eight individual lots. The new mortgages over nearby assets were taken out about the same time he completed the Bonobo deal.
A local men’s clothing store has already taken up a tenancy across two of Catalano’s retail spaces, as has a wellness studio. All but one of the tenancies has been let, and negotiations are under way on the final space.
The purchase included the rights to the resort’s rooftop and pool area, basement parking not already owned by apartment owners and a large-scale, back-of-house commercial kitchen. Raes will operate the Bonobo’s Lobby Lounge and lobby.
Rental cash flows will be key to servicing the borrowings Catalano has taken out against Raes at Wategos and the undeveloped land, which is held in the name of his 25-year-old son, Luca Catalano. All the new lending was provided by a fully owned subsidiary of Sydney-based financier Centuria Capital.
Catalano’s Bonobo assets have been bought via a new company called Jonson Street by Raes Property Pty Ltd.
His eldest son, Jordan Catalano, is sole director and secretary of that entity, and took over his father’s portfolio of corporate directorships amid the fallout in March from the alleged assault. The Bonobo assets are ultimately owned by Catalano’s Kirant Holdings Pty Ltd.
Catalano’s Bonobo real estate deal was carried out via three transactions over three titles, two for a mere $1 each and one for $17.35 million. Catalano was contacted for comment on his latest dealings.
He stepped down as Australian Community Media executive chair following the March incident, saying at the time that he was “struggling with significant mental health and substance abuse issues”, before entering a rehabilitation facility.
Since leaving that clinic, he has appeared before the court only by video link. Catalano is scheduled to be back before the court on the assault charges in October.
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