A bitter civil war has torn apart one of Australia's most prominent hotelier families, pitting siblings against each other and their parents in a sprawling dispute centred on a multi-million dollar penthouse and the future of their pub empire.
The $6 Million Penthouse at the Heart of the Feud
The latest flashpoint in the long-running De Angelis family conflict is a luxurious 1100sqm penthouse on Main Beach Parade, Gold Coast. The property, formed from two adjoining apartments opposite the Main Beach Surf Club, boasts an outdoor heated pool, a sauna, a tennis court, and panoramic coastline views stretching from Coolangatta to Stradbroke Island. Currently valued at around $6 million, it has been used as a holiday home for decades.
The apartment is owned in equal shares by the four children of pub barons Alcide 'Arch' De Angelis and his wife Robyn De Angelis: Phillip, Peter, and Marc De Angelis, and their sister Nicole De Angelis-Hood. Despite all living in multi-million dollar properties in Sydney, the siblings are now locked in a legal battle over the Gold Coast asset, with disputes over unpaid bills triggering a Supreme Court action.
Courtroom Battles and Unpaid Bills
According to court documents reported by the Australian Financial Review, the apartment's body corporate has issued statements for unpaid levies of $7,128 and $6,344. Furthermore, the Gold Coast City Council has allegedly sent final notices concerning outstanding rates, water, and sewage bills for the property.
In response, Nicole and Phillip De Angelis have launched a suit in the Supreme Court of Queensland against their brothers, Peter and Marc. They are seeking to have trustees appointed to force the sale of the penthouse. The once-close siblings appeared in court in December and are attempting to settle out of court before their next scheduled appearance in February.
The family split has clear factions. Matriarch Robyn De Angelis sides with sons Peter and Marc. Peter, who once dated television host Samantha Armytage, claims to have paid the majority of the penthouse bills for over two years, contributing $226,087, compared to smaller sums from his siblings. Patriarch Arch De Angelis is aligned with his other son, Phillip, and daughter Nicole and her husband, Brendan Hood.
A History of Conflict Beyond the Penthouse
The Main Beach dispute is merely one front in a wider family war. The De Angelis wealth was built on a portfolio of pubs established by Arch and Robyn, including venues like the Edmondson Tavern, the Hume Highway Hotel, and the Bath Arms Hotel in Burwood.
Last year, Arch De Angelis filed a claim in the NSW Supreme Court against his wife and son Peter, alleging breaches of directors' duties and seeking to restrict their involvement in running family pubs. He also requested assurances that he and another relative remain as directors of the family companies.
In a separate but concurrent legal matter, Robyn De Angelis is suing her billionaire brother, legendary publican Arthur Laundy, in the Federal Court over poker machine licences she claims were improperly moved from a family holding company.
The family's courtroom appearances are not limited to commercial disputes. Phillip De Angelis has a criminal record, having been sentenced for reckless wounding and common assault against his ex-girlfriend, interior designer Nellie Tilley, in 2016. Peter De Angelis has pleaded guilty to high-range drink-driving on multiple occasions. Furthermore, NSW Police lodged an Apprehended Violence Order on behalf of Brendan Hood against his mother-in-law, Robyn.
The penthouse was first bought by Arch's company in 2006 for $1.05 million and sold to his four children in 2010 for $2.45 million. Its value has more than doubled since, but its future now hangs in the balance as the De Angelis dynasty's internal strife continues to play out in the nation's courtrooms.
