Inside the 31st anniversary of Merivale: Justin Hemmes’ glamorous girlfriend steals the show in a racy dress as she celebrates his milestone at wild bash – after THAT sex scene controversy

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Justin Hemmes, the wealthy owner of Merivale, and his girlfriend, model Madeline Holtznagel, were the guests of honor at Merivale’s 31st anniversary party in Sydney on Wednesday evening.

Madeline, 29, made a statement at the ’90s-themed party in a bold black maxi dress from Désordre Boutique. The dress had a high slit and she paired it with strappy heels.

I always say, a classic updo is the quickest way to polish any look! At the event, she really nailed it – her blonde hair swept up beautifully, and simple gold hoops completed the look. It’s all about effortless elegance, and she absolutely achieved it while posing for photos.

The stunning model celebrated the special occasion with her boyfriend, Justin Hemmes, the 53-year-old owner of Merivale, and the pair did it with plenty of flair.

Justin looked sharp in a traditional black tuxedo, worn with a white shirt left open at the collar.

With his graying hair and warm smile, he had a classic, easygoing appeal that made people feel comfortable.

Throughout the evening, Madeline and Justin looked fantastic together. Madeline’s classic elegance complemented Justin’s sharp, traditional style, and their connection was obvious in every picture.

As the night went on, they were seen dancing with the crowd to classic songs, including a moving performance of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” They were clearly enjoying the lively party atmosphere.

Justin really got into the party atmosphere when he brought a large boombox – the kind popular in the 80s – onto the stage and played a lot of classic dance hits.

The couple seemed happy and lively, dancing and laughing with the other guests and clearly enjoying the party.

The pair made a memorable statement as they celebrated Merivale’s milestone.

A scandal shook Merivale in 2024 when a video containing sexually explicit footage of pub customers in an elevator – originally captured by security cameras – was shown at a company awards event.

The video clearly showed people engaging in sexual activity in an elevator and publicly urinating at multiple locations owned by the hospitality group.

During The Merivales Awards at Ivy in Sydney, a video was displayed on several screens with the message ‘Big Brother is always watching’.

The video came to light during an ABC investigation of Merivale, a multi-billion dollar company owned by Justin Hemmes. Merivale runs 81 restaurants, pubs, and bars along Australia’s eastern coast.

Two women who shared the video said the audience reacted with awkward laughter and gasps of surprise when it was shown.

‘I kind of couldn’t believe what I was seeing,’ one said.

Both individuals departed Merivale soon after the incident and stated the footage accurately portrayed the company’s culture, which past employees have recently characterized as harmful.

A Merivale representative stated the video was shown before a private event, and they didn’t receive any complaints about it.

Merivale’s venues have full CCTV coverage, and signs clearly inform both customers and employees, according to a spokesperson for the company.

Our venue uses CCTV to monitor public areas, which is both legal and a common security measure for places like ours.

Merivale is legally allowed to record this footage, and anyone visiting should not expect privacy.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, Merivale is not aware of any complaints arising from “The Merivales”.’ 

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2026-04-02 10:20