Hemmes & Holtznagel Dazzle at Merivale's 90s Bash

Billionaire Justin Hemmes and his model girlfriend Madeline Holtznauer were the highlight at Merivale's 31st annual celebration, held in Sydney on Wednesday night. The event embraced a 'Back to the '90s' theme, with Holtznauer stunning in a black cut-out maxi dress and Hemmes sporting a classic tuxedo. The couple posed for photos and later danced among guests as a DJ played throwback hits. Hemmes even brought an '80s style boombox onto the stage to play iconic dance songs, fully immersing himself in the party spirit.

This milestone celebration for Merivale occurs in the wake of a significant controversy from earlier in 2024. Security footage depicting patrons engaging in sexual activities within an elevator at several Merivale venues was edited and shown at an internal awards event for the hospitality group. The video, which did not obscure identities, was met with discomfort and shock by some attendees.

Merivale, which operates 81 venues across Australia's east coast, stated that the CCTV footage was captured in public spaces and that there is no reasonable expectation of privacy for patrons. The company spokesperson added that the reel was played at a private, invitation-only event, and no complaints were received regarding its screening. Despite this, former employees have described the group's culture as 'toxic'.