Latest news with #DarlingHarbour
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Supermodel Tyra Banks reveals why she moved to Australia as she launches upmarket ice cream store in Sydney
Tyra Banks has officially unveiled her dream project in Australia – launching her first-ever SMiZE & DREAM ice cream store in the heart of Sydney 's Darling Harbour. In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia, the American supermodel-turned-entrepreneur revealed she fell head over heels for the Harbour City after visiting regularly for over a year while producing ice cream for a cruise line account. 'I was coming for about a year and a half and just fell in love with it,' she said. 'And I said, should we make this move? And here we are.' The 51-year-old said Sydney's relaxed charm and community energy helped seal the decision to base her global business Down Under, with one spot standing out above all others. 'I love Darling Harbour because of this park. Tumbalong Park is magical,' she said, adding that even before her shop opened, she and her family would spend their weekends there. 'I have friends that live an hour and a half away and on the weekends they drive here just to go to the water and put their feet in with the kids.' 'There's a playground for older kids, one for younger kids, Darling Square nearby, the harbour – it just felt natural.' Tyra's passion for the brand is personal, down to the flavours themselves. When asked about her favourite scoop, she didn't hesitate. 'My favourite flavour is called Tyra's Favourite – very creative, isn't it?' she laughed. The flavour features salted sweet cream with butter-roasted pecans and a thick, savoury caramel butter swirl. 'It's not your traditional ice cream taste – it has this surprising, rich sensation in the mouth,' she said. She also teased a potential first celebrity collaboration, revealing a well-known Aussie star is already in talks. 'I have a very good friend – she's coming today – and we've been talking about doing a collab,' she revealed. 'She's very known here, so I'm touched that she wants to do something. I think she'll be the first, hopefully.' Beyond ice cream, the SMiZE & DREAM founder wants the business to stand for something bigger – encouraging others, especially women, to reinvent themselves no matter their age. 'It's never too late,' she said, when asked what advice she had for women starting over. 'But we have to know our stuff. Unfortunately, women – we have to be better. We have to be smarter. We have to know more.' Her message was firm and inspiring: 'Just go deep, study hard, walk into that room head held high. You're going to hear 'no's – but one day you're going to get that 'yes'. And you just have to be ready for it.' Previously speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the former America's Next Top Model host revealed that she has embraced the Aussie lifestyle fully – and says even her mother can't believe they live here now. 'Australia's not real to Americans,' she said. 'I know you guys, this is where you're from, but this is like fantasy land.' She's swapped designer boutiques for shopping sprees at Kmart and lazy weekends in the park. Previously speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the former America's Next Top Model host revealed that she has embraced the Aussie lifestyle fully – and says even her mother can't believe they live here now 'I went the other day and bought stuff for our kitchen,' she laughed. 'Kmart here is fancy! Where's the cheque? This is ridiculous—I just keep talking about it!' Tyra hasn't ruled out returning to television – and this time, it could be in Australia. 'I think I'm going to go back to do some TV,' she teased. 'I might even do stuff here – morning shows, hosting, something. When I do, it's going to feel like home.' She admitted that after years in front of the camera, it's being a businesswoman that's truly tested her. 'I used to think, 'Oh, I'm so stressed with all these TV shows,' she said. 'But that is nothing compared to being an entrepreneur. When I go back to TV, it'll actually feel relaxing!'
Daily Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
James Packer adviser tipped to be $80m penthouse buyer
James Packer adviser Lawrence Myers is tipped to be the mystery circa $80m buyer of Crown's penthouse at Barangaroo. Myers, who is the chief executive of Packer's family office Consolidated Press Holdings, and his wife, Sylvia, currently have their Rose Bay mansion listed with hopes above $90m. The Agency's Steven Chen, who sold the penthouse and is the co-agent for the luxury Bayview Hill mansion, has been contacted for comment. And according to multiple sources, Myers, who took up the Consolidated Press role two years ago, has negotiated a deal to eventually move into the luxury penthouse, which will sit 32 floors above Packer's luxury two-level apartment. MORE: Security guard sells $4m lottery win The sources differ on the price Myers is paying, with the amounts ranging between $70m and just under $80m. The Wentworth Courier last week broke the news that the buyer of the 849sqm six-bedroom penthouse, on levels 81 and 82 of the Barangaroo tower was rumoured to be from Sydney's east. Designed by Meyer Davis, the penthouse includes a small pool with balcony. All up there are four balconies, with views to Darling Harbour, North Sydney, the heart of the CBD and the iconic harbour. Other features include a gym, wine cellar for 300 bottles, a butler's pantry, two guest bedrooms, a separate entrance for nannies and chefs and a wet bar. The panoramic views, taking in the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, can never be built out. Although one of Sydney's best apartments, it's understood James Packer's double storey apartment on levels 48 and 49 of Crown — which cost $72m — is even more impressive. 'Packer's is just spectacular, with more than 1000 sqm of space and two designers have worked on the interiors,' one source said. The Myers family's Rose Bay home, listed with both Chen and Pillinger chief Brad Pillinger, is also spectacular. On a 1039sqm block, the grand property, designed by David Walker and Peter Janks, has incredible views of the Harbour Bridge from nearly every room — even the bathtub and gym. There's also an incredible wet-edge pool with spa and cabana. The 1,100 sqm of internal space flowing to the outdoors can host parties of more than 200 guests and an executive office on the entry level is big enough for boardroom-scale meetings. There's a 10-seat cinema, games room on the lower ground level. And there are four bedroom suites, with three of them opening to balconies facing the harbour. The house, in the name of Sylvia Myers, was bought from billionaire businessman Brett Blundy in 2018, title records show. No price is indicated, though reports at the time put it in the $43m-$45m range. It adjoins a harbourside pathway to Queens Beach and there's an eight car garage with a turning circle. The current Rose Bay record is $55m for a Bruce Stafford-designed six-bedroom residence at 12 Dumaresq Rd, which sold in February.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
James Packer adviser tipped to be $80m penthouse buyer
James Packer adviser Lawrence Myers is tipped to be the mystery circa $80m buyer of Crown's penthouse at Barangaroo. Myers, who is the chief executive of Packer's family office Consolidated Press Holdings, and his wife, Sylvia, currently have their Rose Bay mansion listed with hopes above $90m. The Agency's Steven Chen, who sold the penthouse and is the co-agent for the luxury Bayview Hill mansion, has been contacted for comment. And according to multiple sources, Myers, who took up the Consolidated Press role two years ago, has negotiated a deal to eventually move into the luxury penthouse, which will sit 32 floors above Packer's luxury two-level apartment. The sources differ on the price Myers is paying, with the amounts ranging between $70m and just under $80m. The Wentworth Courier last week broke the news that the buyer of the 849sqm six-beroom penthouse, on levels 81 and 82 of the Barangaroo tower was rumoured to be from Sydney's east. Designed by Meyer Davis, the penthouse includes a small pool with balcony. All up there are four balconies, with views to Darling Harbour, North Sydney, the heart of the CBD and the iconic harbour. Other features include a gym, wine cellar for 300 bottles, a butler's pantry, two guest bedrooms, a separate entrance for nannies and chefs and a wet bar. The panoramic views, taking in the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, can never be built out. Although one of Sydney's best apartments, it's understood James Packer's double storey apartment on levels 48 and 49 of Crown — which cost $72m — is even more impressive. 'Packer's is just spectacular, with more than 1000 sqm of space and two designers have worked on the interiors,' one source said. The Myers family's Rose Bay home, listed with both Chen and Pillinger chief Brad Pillinger, is also spectacular. On a 1039sqm block, the grand property, designed by David Walker and Peter Janks, has incredible views of the Harbour Bridge from nearly every room — even the bathtub and gym. There's also an incredible wet-edge pool with spa and cabana. The 1,100 sqm of internal space flowing to the outdoors can host parties of more than 200 guests and an executive office on the entry level is big enough for boardroom-scale meetings. There's a 10-seat cinema, games room on the lower ground level. And there are four bedroom suites, with three of them opening to balconies facing the harbour. The house, in the name of Sylvia Myers, was bought from billionaire businessman Brett Blundy in 2018, title records show. No price is indicated, though reports at the time put it in the $43m-$45m range. It adjoins a harbourside pathway to Queens Beach and there's an eight car garage with a turning circle. The current Rose Bay record is $55m for a Bruce Stafford-designed six-bedroom residence at 12 Dumaresq Rd, which sold in February.
News.com.au
10-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
$80m unit smashes all records
The circa $80m buyer of Crown's six-bedrooom penthouse at Barangaroo is rumoured to be from Sydney's east. Sources have confirmed that the stunning apartment, which occupies levels 81 and 82 of the Barangaroo tower, exchanged on Tuesday via The Agency's head of projects Steven Chen and Colliers director of residential project marketing Luke Hayes. Chen and Hayes had no comment when contacted, though other sources confirmed the deal was done at 'circa $80m'. Though separate sources had said the result was between $70m and $75m. At any rate, it's the highest price for a completed apartment in the country. Although there was a $142m transaction in 2019 — for the Lendlease Tower 1 development next door — that was off-the-plan and also an amalgamation of two apartments. This latest sale for the 849sqm double-storey space equates to more than $94,000 per sq m. Designed by Meyer Davis, it includes a small pool with balcony. All up there are four balconies, with views to Darling Harbour, North Sydney, the heart of the CBD and the iconic harbour. Other features include a gym, wine cellar for 300 bottles, a butler's pantry, two guest bedrooms, a separate entrance for nannies and chefs and a wet bar. The panoramic views, taking in the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, can never be built out. Although one of Sydney's best apartments, it's understood James Packer's double storey apartment on levels 65 and 66 of Crown is even more impressive. 'Packer's is just spectacular, with more than 1000sqm of space and two designers have worked on the interiors,' one source said. 'He had the choice of the apartments when he bought his for $60m off-the-plan in 2017, but he chose the lower level because it had more space and more intimate views.' The Crown tower was finished just three years ago but the penthouse has languished on the market, with hopes as high as $110m originally. The price dropped to $90m in December and the space was tricked up at a cost of $500,000 to try to attract a buyer. It's been confirmed that the purchaser is an Australian resident. 'There was a lot of interest from the Chinese market, but ultimately it was an Australian citizen who bought it,' a source advised. The purchaser of the $142m apartment next door is understood to be from Asia.
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Inside downfall of iconic Sydney theme park
It was meant to be Sydney's answer to Disneyland – a neon-lit, multi-level temple to gaming glory that promised to bring the future of entertainment Down Under in the late 90s. But by 2000, Sega World had pulled the plug. Now, more than two decades on, former employees have reflected on the ambitious indoor theme park that opened with a bang but quietly fizzled out just a few years later. Sega World Sydney was a short-lived icon of 90s optimism, housed inside Darling Harbour's Pavilion building with a rumoured price tag of over $80 million. Its colourful corridors, virtual reality (VR) simulators, parades and under-18 dance parties were a far cry from Luna Park's rickety charm. Instead, Sega was supposed to be a cutting-edge 'high-tech adventure playground' backed by Sega's global gaming empire. Featuring nine rides and simulators, a bustling food court, live entertainment and over 200 arcade games, it seemed that Sega World had something for everyone – big or small. It was officially launched on March 18 in 1997 by Michael Knight, the Minister at the time responsible for the Sydney Olympic Games and the bustling Darling Harbour precinct. 'They were anticipating huge crowds coming to Sydney and Sega World for the Olympics,' former staff member Andrew said in an interview with Sega fanatic DrScottnik. 'They didn't get they wanted and they weren't making any money,' he added. A big bet that didn't pay off The park was a joint venture between Japanese gaming giant Sega and Sydney Harbour casino developer Jacfun. They poured millions into the project, banking on Olympic tourism and the growing popularity of video games. Instead, ticket sales dwindled despite desperate initiatives such as free entry and free rides. 'We tried various schemes to make people come including free entry, buy passes as you go or buy a ticket at the gate which covered everything. We also tried making games completely free,' said ex-staffer Peter. 'But I guess ultimately, the interest wasn't there.' By early 2000 – just months after the Olympics – Sega had quietly pulled out of the operation, leaving the theme park to gather dust. Not even an auction to sell off the contents of the park in 2001 was able to draw a crowd, with a few hundred-odd punters gathering to pick up arcade games for bargain prices. Jacfun managed to keep the lights on at the site for another three years but by 2003, the dream was officially over. Today, there's little sign that Sega World ever existed at all. Gone, but not forgotten 'I can vividly remember going into the control room and saying, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, Sega world is closed for this evening,' for the very last time,' former manager Jonathon recalled. For many others, Sega World remains a brightly-coloured memory of their childhood. 'My favourite place was shut down for reasons as a kid for reasons that I just couldn't understand,' said ex-visitor Nick. 'It brought us all so much joy and memories. I always remember this as the beginning of the end for that area of the city. For me, the city has never been the same after that,' he said. An online fandom of Sega Sydney lovers still exists, with X accounts dedicated to keeping the memory alive. On eBay, you can even score the iconic Sonic swipe access pass for $277. Many other nostalgic 90s babies weighed in on the clip, sharing their fond memories of the park. 'I went there on my first big Sydney trip. Monorail, aquarium, National Museum and Sega world! Was absolutely ecstatic!,' said one. 'What a nostalgia trip, I think I almost bankrupt my parents by begging to be taken there every school holidays back in the day,' said another. 'I went there as a kid and made friends with another kid after checking out the 3D/4D VR simulation. A few months later he ended up moving away. Fast forward 25 years, he was the best man at my wedding – I'll always have a huge soft spot for Sega World because of that,' shared a third.
