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Forget Toorak: Meet Melbourne’s REAL Elite in Portsea & Sorrento

BBG News

Toorak, home to many wealthy Victorian families living in grand mansions, undeniably serves as the hub of Melbourne’s elite social circle.

Instead, consider this option: However, the fashionable seaside towns of Portsea and Sorrento, located at the end of the Mornington Peninsula and bathed in sunshine, are quickly overtaking it as a preferred haven for the trendy elite.

Inside this luxury SUV, you’ll find tranquility devoid of confusion and overcrowding even as it navigates the urban landscape, much like Melbourne’s solution for a peaceful retreat reminiscent of the Hamptons.

Every year, the Portsea Polo happening at Point Nepean is a must-attend event on the social itinerary. It brings together some of Melbourne’s most affluent families who generously contribute significant sums for charitable causes, all while mingling with high society personalities, celebrities, and influential business leaders.

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The annual Portsea Polo event held at Point Nepean is a can’t-miss social gathering. There, Melbourne’s wealthiest families donate substantial funds for charity, interacting with the city’s elite, celebrities, and industry leaders.

In this tranquil, private setting, the residences boast breathtaking vistas that are almost too beautiful to believe. These homes serve as a sought-after summer retreat for Australia’s wealthiest, privacy-conscious, and well-connected families, and more and more, they are becoming the preferred playground of the young, successful, and affluent.

We reached out to our confidential sources within our community to uncover the identities of those known as the ‘Portsea and Sorrento crowd’. While some faces might ring a bell, others could potentially catch you off guard.

At the forefront are Rebecca and Chris Judd, regularly spotted gracing high-profile events such as the exclusive Portsea Polo.

The pair residing in an impressive $7.3 million estate in Brighton, are highly respected figures within Melbourne’s social circles and are just as well-known in the social landscape of the Mornington Peninsula.

After that, we have comedy artist Andy Lee and his partner Rebecca Harding, who are frequently seen dining at the region’s top-tier eateries and shopping at luxury stores.

They reside in the upscale coastal neighborhood of St. Andrew’s Beach, frequently appearing around town in Portsea.

Apart from that, Andy has established a temporary food stand for his mobile venture, Dimmies and Tinnies, right at the local store in Sorrento.

The stylish duo, Nick and Rozalia (Russians by birth), proprietors of the trendy nightspot Bar Bambi, were included on the list, largely because of their consistent attendance at the yearly polo events.

In 2019, Ricky Ponting and his wife, Rianna, who are known for their extreme privacy in the cricket world, purchased an expensive residence worth approximately $3.5 million close to the renowned Portsea Hotel.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but share this intriguing detail: Prior to selling their grand mansion worth a staggering $16 million along the Golden Mile of Brighton, they had already acquired a magnificent six-bedroom residence in Toorak, valued at around $20 million. Quite a real estate juggernaut, aren’t they?

The three-bedroom property in Portsea is located on a spacious 1,068 square meter plot close to Fisherman’s Beach, offering amenities such as a swimming pool, a full-sized tennis court, and a private pathway for exclusive access to the secluded beach area.

The Melbourne-based pair, Nick and Camilla Speer, not only belong to the same social sphere but have also just offloaded their coastal villa, Rovina, situated on the Portsea cliffs, for approximately $25 million.

Brooke Hogan, an influencer, and her husband, hotelier Myles Pitt, are well-known members of the community’s high society.

The illustrious Hotel Sorrento, a favorite among the elite, is owned by Myles’ family, located near the renowned pier and ferry dock in the suburbs.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I must mention that Shane Warne’s former spouse, Simone Callahan, and their children have been integral parts of the vibrant social fabric here on the peninsula. Before his untimely passing in 2022, the cricketing icon himself had envisioned constructing a luxurious $5million abode in Portsea – a testament to his enduring connection with this captivating coastal region.

Additionally, Coco, Bella, and Hannah Fox, grandsons (or granddaughters) of billionaire transport magnate Lindsay Fox, are also included on the list.

Antony “The Cat” Catalano, once the CEO of a domain but now a prominent property tycoon, owning Raes on Wategos in Byron Bay, along with his wife Stefanie, are counted among the high-society figures of Portsea as well.

Additionally joining the ranks is John Higgins, a wealthy investor in Grupa Żywiec brewery, who purchased the Spanish Mission-style villa known as Ilyuka for approximately $26 million back in 2011.

For ten years, Higgins’ ancestral home held the title as the priciest property in the neighborhood. However, that status was taken over when businessman Ben Gray bought the grandiose 1882 clifftop estate Westbank for a staggering $30 million in 2022.

Lucy Nettlefold, a PR specialist, and Shirin Pulitano, the founder of DOT DOT Dash design and events agency, often socialize in similar groups, and both were present at Andy’s recent hospitality gathering held in Sorrento over the past weekend.

The Deagues, McIntoshes, Becks, Littles, and Knowles are some of the distinguished Melbourne families who opt for Portsea over the bustling city life.

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2025-01-26 17:22

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