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Accused domestic violence perpetrator Antony Catalano has upped the ante on his controversial family compound in Byron Bay, with the businessman now seeking approval to build a third luxury home on a neighbouring site to create a sprawling $67 million-plus complex.
The businessman, who is facing criminal charges relating to an alleged assault on his wife, Stefanie, in March, has submitted plans to the local Byron Bay council to knock down the nearby Catalano family home and replace it with the three-level house with an undercroft and swimming pool.
The home is on a 780-square-metre site that is adjacent to two vacant blocks of 4400 square metres on which the family has already gained approval for a two-house estate, despite local council objections.
The family home, which is in the glamorous resort town’s exclusive enclave of Wategos Beach, shares a long boundary with the blocks bought by Catalano for $25 million in 2020. The family plans to spend another $29 million building two houses on the site, for a total cost of $54 million.
Catalano’s planned estate will sit on land that is surrounded by a looping elevated road. Wategos is on the eastern edge of Byron Bay and comprises about 80 residential blocks, many of which are now home to some of Australia’s wealthiest people.
Neighbours include Melbourne billionaire Stephen Hains, Boost Juice founder Janine Allis, Afterpay co-founder Anthony Eisen, F45 Training co-founder Adam Gilchrist and former JB Hi-Fi chief executive Richard Uechtritz.
In 2023, the Catalanos paid $9 million for the three-storey residence, which they now call home. The house is held in Stefanie’s name and is mortgaged to Westpac. They want to spend an estimated $4.1 million to knock down the home and create another luxury residence similar in style to the larger, two-home planned development.
All three homes have been designed by Fitzroy-based design firm Rob Kennon Architects to create what would effectively become a $67 million three-home estate across almost 5200 square metres – or more than an acre – with no boundary fences.
News of Catalano’s latest property development project comes as he faces eight criminal charges in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court over the alleged assault of his wife at their luxury penthouse in St Kilda on March 13.
Police allege the millionaire businessman swung a clothes iron at Stefanie’s head, unlawfully imprisoned her in the luxury apartment, threatened to stab her to death, and choked or strangled her. She was admitted to hospital with a fractured tailbone.
A source close to Stefanie, but not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed to this masthead that in early June, Stefanie filed a detailed “statement of no complaint” with Victoria Police concerning the alleged incident and that she would not give evidence in her husband’s trial.
At the end of last month, Stefanie, who is the mother of four of Antony’s nine children from three marriages, also filed an ethical standards complaint against Victoria Police, alleging authorities were seeking to “destroy” her businessman husband.
Stefanie Catalano’s lawyer Sarah Pratt said the planning of the family compound had been underway for the past 6 years.
“Its sensitive design to the environment has meant it has not attracted any objections from immediate neighbours or local residents,” she said.
“Mrs Catalano’s project is expected to be one of the most exclusive family compounds in the country when completed. This, of course, has no relevance to the current criminal allegations before the Court.”
Plans for the original two-home family compound were rejected by Byron Shire Council. After an 18-month battle, Catalano successfully appealed against the decision in the NSW Land and Environment Court.
According to the council, so far, there have been no objections to Catalano’s latest proposal. The matter is expected to be considered at the September or October council meeting.
Catalano has already attended several pre-application meetings with council representatives concerning the planned third home. Documentation reveals he is seeking approval for the “demolition of the existing dwelling and construction of a three level dwelling house including basement storage, under-croft parking, upper level swimming pool, removal of three native trees and ancillary earthworks”.
Not all of the neighbours, however, have been happy with Catalano’s Wategos plans. In March last year, he ended up in an altercation with local jeweller Giovanni D’Ercole, whose nearby home adjoins Catalano’s planned estate. D’Ercole was contacted about Catalano’s newest development plans, but did not respond.
Catalano also owns the luxury Raes at Wategos boutique resort and nearby Raes Residences accommodation. Raes at Wategos has the management rights to the just-opened The Bonobo by Raes luxury resort in the Byron town centre, and Catalano owns the facility’s adjoining commercial real estate.
The former Age journalist turned businessman co-owns regional and rural digital media company Australian Community Media with billionaire Alex Waislitz. Following the alleged assault, Catalano stood aside as executive chair and installed two of his sons on the company’s board.
In June, Catalano’s bail conditions were altered to allow him to visit Byron Bay, with the couple reconciling their marriage. Following the alleged assault, Antony said he was “struggling with significant mental health and substance abuse issues”, and entered a suburban Melbourne rehabilitation facility shortly after the assault charges were laid.
Since leaving that clinic, he has appeared before the court only by video link. The matter set to return to court in October.
Both Antony and Stefanie Catalano were contacted for comment.
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