Crown sells Melbourne’s Capital Golf Course in mega deal
US golfer John Daly practising at the Capital Golf Club. Pictures: Craig Borrow, Michael Klein.
Crown Resorts has sold an elite Melbourne golf course reserved for celebrities and Crown Casino high rollers for a sum believed to fall between $90m to $100m.
The Capital Golf Course in Heatherton has hosted the likes of pro golfer Tiger Woods and songstress Celine Dion, as well as wealthy gamblers given a tee time by Crown Resorts.
In 2011, the late cricket legend Shane Warne and actor Liz Hurley were photographed enjoying a lunch at the club while they were engaged.
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Throughout this year, industry sources have indicated the Fox family headed by trucking magnate Lindsay Fox had been circling the property — with speculation around a sum close to $100m for the deal that is understood to take an extensive period to finalise.
Ex-Richmond Football Club president Clinton Casey’s Casey Group was also among the bidders for the 18-hole course, with Mr Casey confirming their interest last month.
Other big names who were rumoured to be have been facilitating or making offers for the course include former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews and crypto-casino billionaire Ed Craven — who is currently building one of Melbourne’s most lavish homes that’s tipped to be worth more than $150m once the St Georges Rd, Toorak, mansion is completed.
An aerial view of the golf course on Centre Dandenong Rd in Heatherton.
Actor Liz Hurley and cricketer Shane Warne announced their engagement in 2011. They were snapped lunching at the golf club that same year. Picture: Instagram.
The 120-ha Heatherton property was developed for circa-$50m by developer and
seven-time Melbourne Cup winning horse owner Lloyd Williams, in 1997.
Crown paid Mr Williams $67.6m when it bought the golf course, more than a decade ago.
At the time, billionaire James Packer was the company’s majority owner.
The world’s largest alternative asset manager, Blackstone, purchased three of Crown Resorts’ Australian resort and casino properties including the golf course for $8.9bn in 2022.
A Crown Resorts spokesperson said the sale was “another step in Crown’s strategy to focus on its core Australian assets” after making the decision to divest its non-core assets.
The Melbourne Golf Academy, the public access golf driving range adjacent to the Capital course on Centre Dandenong Rd in Heatherton, has also been sold.
US golf player Tiger Woods is one of the many famous sportspeople to have graced the Heatherton course. Picture: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Golfers at the 18-hole course.
Guests for the Capital’s own course have a separate practice range, short game and putting green.
“Importantly, Crown will retain access rights to Capital Golf Club with select guests able to play rounds at the exclusive course,” the spokesperson said.
Last week, Crown Resorts announced its role as title partner of the Men’s Crown Australian Open to be held at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in December.
-Additional reporting by Nathan Mawby
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