The company behind the Gold Coast's top seafood restaurant has been wound up by the tax office, with a court-appointed liquidator stepping in amid reports of a family feud and a spiralling tax bill.
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liquidator → wind → feud
For 35 years, waterfront seafood restaurant Omeros Bros was a Gold Coast institution, famed for its relaxed dining and signature dishes like Moreton Bay bugs and curry prawns.
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Bros → fame → bugs
Founded in 1989 by brothers Nick and Angelo Omeros, the restaurant stayed in family hands, with Nick's son, Johnny Omeros, taking over after his uncle Angelo's passing in 2006.
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son → found → 2006
Diners fondly recall the hallway lined with photos of famous guests - a testament to Omeros Bros' legendary status.
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Diners → recall → status
Celebrity visitors included Beyoncé, Dave Grohl, Eddie Vella, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, as well as local identities such as Miss Australia hopeful Holly MacAlpine, who got engaged at the restaurant in December, influencer Sky Wheatley, and model Aston Wood.
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who → include → December
Nearly four decades of waterfront success ended in sharp contrast to the swift, understated manner in which the company's fate was sealed this week.
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fate → end → which
On Tuesday morning, in a brief Federal Court hearing, the decision was made to wind up the iconic venue, with David Hambleton appointed as liquidator.
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Hambleton → make → liquidator
The Deputy Commissioner of Tax had initiated the proceedings by lodging an application on August 18.
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Commissioner → initiate → August
The Omeros name has become synonymous with their restaurant dynasty, with son Johnny Omeros pictured with his wife Ingrid (left), stepping in after the passing of his uncle Angelo in 2006.
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Omeros → become → 2006
Nick Omeros is pictured centre
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Omeros → picture → ?
In January, the venue was forced out of its long-term location at Marina Mirage due to a $500million redevelopment of the waterfront dining and retail spot
Miss
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venue → force → spot
Australia hopeful Holly MacAlpine got engaged at the restaurant in December, just before it closed its doors
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it → engage → doors
A week later, on August 26, the Supreme Court proceedings brought by Nick Omeros against his son Johnny Omeros were discontinued.
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proceedings → bring → son
The insolvency follows a turbulent period for the restaurant, which has faced ongoing turmoil despite officially closing its doors nine months ago.
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which → follow → doors
In January, the venue was forced out of its long-term location at Marina Mirage due to a $500million redevelopment of the waterfront dining and retail precinct.
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venue → force → precinct
Then in May, Omeros Senior launched Supreme Court proceedings against his son, accusing him of going behind his back and opening the new venue, Johnny Omeros, on Capri.
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Senior → launch → Capri
According to the Courier Mail, Mr Omeros stated in an affidavit that he intended to remain involved in the new venue, and was 'blindsided' when he was 'completely excluded' from its operations.
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he → accord → operations
'I was not, and still am not, ready to retire,' Mr Omeros deposed in an affidavit.
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Omeros → retire → affidavit
In his affidavit, the elder Omeros said that in 2017 he entrusted the 'day-to-day operations' of the restaurant to his three children while he underwent surgery.
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he → say → surgery
After learning about Marina Mirage's redevelopment and the restaurant's imminent closure, Omeros Senior said he and Johnny had 'ultimately' agreed on Isle of Capri as the new location and had met with the landlord.
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he → learn → landlord
The original Omeros brothers, Nick (left)and Angelo (right) are pictured.
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brothers → picture → ?
Nick's son Johnny came on board when Angelo died in 2006
In May, Nick Omeros launched Supreme Court proceedings against his son, accusing him of going behind his back and opening the new venue, Johnny Omeros, on Capri.
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Omeros → come → Capri
(Father and son are pictured together in happier times)
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Father → picture → times
Influencer Sky Wheatley was a regular at the restaurant, known for its fresh seafood dishes, before its closure
It was also reported that Omeros Senior claimed the company's liabilities exceeded $2.15million, including $1million allegedly owed to the ATO.
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liabilities → know → ATO
In his original statement of claim, Mr Omeros alleged his son breached his duties as co-director of the original company, according to the Courier Mail.
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son → allege → Mail
He also sought permanent injunctions to prevent the younger Omeros from operating any other restaurant while still a director of the original company, and from using the Omeros name or associated goodwill.
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He → seek → name
The family's troubles have not been limited to their dining empire, with two members of the prominent clan facing money laundering charges.
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members → limit → charges
In April 2024, Omeros Senior's wife Vicky and his son Harry were arrested after investigations into alleged fraudulent activity at a number of companies.
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wife → arrest → companies
Vicky Omeros faces one count of money laundering recklessly, while Harry Omeros is charged with one count of money laundering knowingly.
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Omeros → face → count
Neither has yet entered a plea, and both are listed to face Southport Magistrates Court on November 18 for a committal hearing.
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both → enter → hearing
No one else in the Omeros family is accused of wrongdoing.
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one → accuse → wrongdoing
For now, the family's hospitality legacy continues through Johnny Omeros at the Isle of Capri.
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legacy → continue → Capri
The new restaurant opened in July, taking over the former Isla Dining space at Capri Via Roma.
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restaurant → open → Roma
Its Instagram page describes it as 'your neighbourhood Greek by the water,' with a continued focus on fresh seafood dining.
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page → describe → dining
The Aporia
