Justin Hemmes takes his four-year-old daughter to his wild $1million ‘mini-festival’ staff party

Billionaire pub baron Justin Hemmes threw a wild $1million bash for his staff on Monday at his Sydney nightclub, The Ivy. 

And the 49-year-old revealed that he had a very special – and young – guest in attendance.

Justin, who inherited the Merivale empire from his parents John and Merivale Hemmes, revealed he took daughter Saachi, four, to the staff party which he even dubbed a ‘mini-festival’.

‘Saachi’s first staff party,’ Justin posted on Instagram underneath a video of himself holding his tiny tot in his arms as they danced. 

He shares Saachi and Alexa, five, with his Kiwi model ex Kate Fowler.   

The pub baron’s shindig, held at his popular Sydney CBD nightclub The Ivy, lasted a whopping 12 hours and cost $1million, with the 49-year-old Merivale CEO pictured joining the fun.

Former flame: He shares Saachi and Alexa, five, with his Kiwi model ex Kate Fowler

What a bash: The pub baron’s shindig, held at his popular Sydney CBD nightclub The Ivy, lasted a whopping 12 hours and cost $1million, with the 49-year-old Merivale CEO pictured joining the fun

‘It was a mini-festival. Thousands of staff all having an amazing time, it was incredible,’ Hemmes told The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.

The spend was chump change to the billionaire, who was happy to drop some change on his charges, with 4500 staff members partying all day at The Ivy – which was aptly re-named ‘Ivy Land’. 

‘It is not about spending money, it is about recognition,’ he said. ‘It is celebrating their hard work and acknowledging them for the great job that they do. Particularly in hospitality, staff are everything. 

‘It was a mini-festival. Thousands of staff all having an amazing time, it was incredible,’ Hemmes told The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday

Huge: Hemmes partied alongside 4,500 staff

‘Your business is built on your people but also we are a family company and we like to celebrate the good times and celebrate the success, our people and the support they give us.’ 

Hemmes shared several videos from the epic bash, aptly named ‘Ivy Land’, on Monday, with his model girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel, 26, taking centre stage as she danced in a glitzy rhinestone bra to the pumping DJ beats.

Her model sister Simone, who recently appeared on SAS Australia, later shared a video of Madeline hosing down revellers with a steam machine as she danced onstage.

‘It is not about spending money, it is about recognition,’ he said. ‘It is celebrating their hard work and acknowledging them for the great job that they do. Particularly in hospitality, staff are everything’

Hot to trot: Hemmes shared several videos from the epic bash, aptly named ‘Ivy Land’, on Monday, with his model girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel, 26, taking centre stage as she danced in a glitzy rhinestone bra to the pumping DJ beats

The crowd, which were staff from all of Merivale’s venues, danced to a banging setlist of club anthems from headline act Flight Facilities.

There were also multiple DJs and drag performers at the event. 

The majority of attendees wore colourful outfits and props as they fist-pumped to the beat, and enjoyed free-flowing drinks and cuisine all night long. 

Food included delicious delights from Merivale venues including Ms. G’s cheeseburger spring rolls and pizza from Vinnie’s Pizza at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Hemmes made his debut on the Financial Review Rich List in 2018 with an estimated net worth of $951million.

Party time: The crowd, which were staff from all of Merivale’s venues, danced to a banging setlist of club anthems from headline act Flight Facilities. The majority of attendees wore colourful outfits and props as they fist-pumped to the beat

Last year, his net worth grew to $1.2billion, making him the 97th richest person in Australia.

The billionaire businessman owns a string of lucrative pubs and establishments across the country, including the Lorne Hotel on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, along with The Quarterdeck, The Inlet and The Whale Inn.

Huge parties for staff have become folklore at Merivale, which is currently facing a class action before the Federal Court for underpayment of workers. Merivale has denied liability and is vigorously fighting the class action.

Class action: Huge parties for staff have become folklore at Merivale, which is currently facing a class action before the Federal Court for underpayment of workers. Merivale has denied liability and is vigorously fighting the class action