Inside the 31st anniversary of Merivale: Justin Hemmes' glamorous girlfriend steals the show in a racy dress as she celebrates his milestone at wild bash - after THAT sex scene controversy

Billionaire Merivale owner Justin Hemmes and his model girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel were the centre of attention at the group's 31st annual celebration in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Madeline, 29, turned heads at the Back to the '90s themed party in a striking black cut-out maxi dress from Désordre Boutique, featuring a daring thigh-high split and strappy heels.

She completed her timeless look by wearing her blonde locks in an elegant updo, accessorising with gold hoop earrings, as she posed for photos at the event.

The glamorous model was accompanied by her Merivale entertainment owner boyfriend Justin Hemmes, 53, with the couple marking the milestone in style.

Meanwhile, Justin cut a striking figure in a classic black tuxedo paired with an open-collar white shirt. 

His salt-and-pepper hair and confident smile added to his old-school charm, giving off a relaxed and carefree vibe.

The pair posed together throughout the evening, making for a sleek, attention-grabbing duo, with Madeline's timeless elegance perfectly contrasting with Justin's dashing classic style, their chemistry clear in every photo. 

Later in the evening, they were spotted dancing among the packed crowd as a DJ played a string of throwback hits - including a heartfelt rendition of My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion - and they soaked up the party atmosphere.

At one point, Justin was seen fully embracing the party spirit by carrying out a large '80s style boombox onto the stage, which belted out a host of iconic throwback dance songs. 

The couple looked relaxed and animated, joining other guests on the dance floor and sharing laughs, fully immersed in the party atmosphere. 

The pair made a memorable statement as they celebrated Merivale's milestone.

It comes after a shock controversy rocked Merivale in 2024, when security camera footage showing pub patrons involved in sexual activity in an elevator was edited into a video and screened at an awards event for the hospitality group. 

The video, which did not conceal the identities of those involved, featured patrons having sex in the lift and urinating in public at several of the hospitality group's venues.

The video was shown on multiple screens during The Merivales Awards at Ivy in Sydney's CBD accompanied by the phrase 'Big Brother is always watching'.

The video was revealed as part of an ABC investigation into Merivale, a billion dollar business owned by Justin Hemmes, which operates 81 restaurants, pubs and bars on Australia's east coast.

Two female attendees who leaked the footage reported that its screening was met with uncomfortable laughter and 'sounds of shock'.

'I kind of couldn't believe what I was seeing,' one said.

They both left Merivale shortly after the event and said the reel was 'reflective' of the group's culture which former employees have recently described as 'toxic'.

But a Merivale spokesperson said the footage was played before a 'private, invitation-only, event' and that 'no complaints were received about the reel in question'.

'Merivale venues are comprehensively monitored by CCTV, a matter which is notified to patrons and staff with clear signage to that effect,' a spokesperson told the ABC.

'The CCTV covers public spaces in our venue, which is both lawful and standard practice in large hospitality venues.

'It is lawful for Merivale to capture this footage and there can be no reasonable expectation of privacy for any patron attending.

'For the avoidance of doubt, Merivale is not aware of any complaints arising from "The Merivales".'