Justin Hemmes, the 53-year-old pub baron known for his privacy, was seen on Wednesday in a rare public display of affection with his girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel, 29, and their son Jaegar. The couple, who welcomed their baby boy in June last year, were spotted cuddling outside their Vaucluse waterfront mansion.
Hemmes, dressed in a grey polo shirt and black slacks, carried little Jaegar down to the shoreline before boarding a seaplane. He stole a sweet goodbye kiss from Madeline and wrapped her in a warm embrace, later planting a kiss on his son's belly. Hemmes also shares two daughters, Alexa and Saachi, with his ex-partner Kate Fowler.
Madeline, a model, risked a wardrobe malfunction in soft grey slacks and a cardigan that gaped open at her chest. She wore her blonde hair in a sleek updo, cradling Jaegar as she walked Justin to the seaplane, bidding him farewell with a kiss and a smile.
Merivale Expands Sydney CBD Footprint
The sighting comes after reports that Hemmes' hospitality empire, Merivale, has acquired a landmark Martin Place site in a $19 million deal. The purchase of the former Combined Services RSL sub-branch building, known locally as the Barracks on Barrack, clears the way for another key piece of Hemmes' ambitious Kings Green overhaul.
Strategic Acquisition for Kings Green Precinct
For Justin, this acquisition strengthens his expanding CBD footprint as part of a broader business strategy to transform multiple heritage buildings into a high-end dining, hotel, and entertainment precinct. In December, he opened the RSL Club Rose Bay to thousands of fans, and this new site joins his growing empire.
The site becomes a strategic addition to the company's sweeping Kings Green precinct vision, a multi-block redevelopment spanning King, York, Clarence, and Barrack Streets. The vision is to create an interconnected precinct featuring dining venues, bars, a boutique hotel, and premium office space. This follows the company's purchase of the core Kings Green site for about $200 million in 2022 and the unveiling of its development plans in 2024.
Sub-branch president Bill Forsbey said the sale strengthens the organisation's long-term mission: "We are a charity for veterans. That means our money goes to veterans, not into a rundown building. This sale puts $19 million to work for them."
