Catalano tightens grip on Byron Bay hospitality precinct with $17.35m Bonobo purchase
Hotelier Antony Catalano has expanded his Byron Bay hospitality holdings, paying $17.35 million to secure the commercial heart of the newly opened Bonobo by Raes resort.
The deal hands Catalano's Raes-branded operation control of the common areas, ground-floor retail lots, rooftop and pool precinct, basement parking, and a large back-of-house commercial kitchen at the 41-apartment development, which opened last month in the upmarket coastal town. Raes will run the property's Lobby Lounge and lobby areas under a management arrangement, while Catalano has not purchased any of the five remaining apartments still on the market through developer Podia, priced from $2.25 million each.
The Age reports the purchase was funded through fresh mortgages taken out over two other Catalano-controlled Byron Bay assets: the Raes on Wategos hotel and a nearby parcel earmarked for a $29 million family compound, held in the name of his son Luca Catalano. The new lending came from a subsidiary of Sydney financier Centuria Capital, with rental income from the Bonobo precinct expected to help service the debt. Raes on Wategos already carries a separate mortgage with Westpac.
Retail tenancies across the site have largely been secured, with a menswear store and a wellness studio among the operators taking up space; one remaining lot is still under negotiation.
Corporate records show the assets were acquired through a newly formed entity, Jonson Street by Raes Property Pty Ltd, sitting under Catalano's Kirant Holdings Pty Ltd. His eldest son, Jordan Catalano, is listed as sole director, having taken over his father's company directorships earlier this year.
Catalano built his Byron Bay hospitality footprint from the Raes on Wategos acquisition in 2013, since expanding into Bali and adding a yacht and, previously, a charter plane to the portfolio. He co-owns regional publisher Australian Community Media with billionaire Alex Waislitz.
The property expansion comes as Catalano continues to face criminal proceedings. He was arrested in March over an alleged assault on his wife, Stefanie, at their Melbourne apartment, and faces charges including unlawful imprisonment, threats to kill, reckless injury and four counts of assault. He stepped down as ACM executive chair at the time, saying he was "struggling with significant mental health and substance abuse issues," and later entered rehabilitation. He has since appeared in court only by video link and is due back before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court in October.
Jonathan Jackson, 13th July 2026
