Sydney broadcasting personality Kyle Sandilands holidaying at Vatulele Island Resort with model girlfriend of two years, Imogen Anthony. This is one of a series of photos which have appeared in the Australian news media in recent days. Photo: IMOGEN ANTHONY/INSTAGRAM
The new owners and visitors of Vatulele Island Resort, south of Korolevu, featured in the Private Sydney column in the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday.
It comes after a week in which pictures of guests at the resort have been highlighted in the Sydney news media.
Here’s what Private Sydney columnist Andrew Hornery wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald:
It was no coincidence Kyle Sandilands washed up on a Fijian beach last week; he owns the island – at least part of it.
The millionaire radio star has bought into the luxury private resort on Vatulele being developed by new owner, controversial former Sydney property developer Albert Bertini.
Sandilands is one of a long line of celebrities of varying repute, including bad boy rocker Tommy Lee, who Bertini has courted in recent months, the heavily bejewelled and tattooed property developer convincing the stars to invest serious dough into the island, which has been billed as a paparazzi-proof enclave for the rich and famous to party on away from prying eyes.
Indeed when photographers were staking out the island in search for Sandilands last week, it was Bertini who appeared to be captaining a boat filled with local ‘‘muscle’’, which was soon circling the tropical paradise in search of those pesky snappers.
However, given Sandiland’s 22-year-old girlfriend Imogen Anthony’s penchant for uploading bikini-clad selfies while on the island, such measures to avoid being photographed would seem a little redundant for Sandilands, who thankfully avoided any swimwear snaps himself.
MOOD
Meanwhile, PS hears the mood on the island has become more tense since Bertini’s arrival, especially among the 1000 or so villagers who live on Vatulele and who are mostly employed at the resort.
‘‘The locals are getting a little tired of all the so-called celebrities washing up here since Bertini took over,’’ said one observer who witnessed Bertini’s naval escapades, which included quizzing the local chief on any suspicious visitors to the island.
Another investor in the island has been former luxury car salesman Nasser Elkordi, a regular around the Kings Cross haunts of John Ibrahim and a close mate of Sandilands.
Bertini first became interested in the island back in July 2011 when he ‘‘spontaneously’’ married 24-year-old former teenage surf competitor Renee Hyman – half his age – on the island.
COMPANY
The marriage happened as Bertini’s Sydney property development company Trivest went into receivership after the refurbishment of the South Sydney Leagues Club, which has also since gone into receivership causing a headache for Bertini’s former pals and business partners, Rabbitohs owners Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court.
The resort’s website boasts staff are ‘‘unspoiled by Western influences, and to the delight of our guests, maintain their natural gentleness and warmth.’’
One wonders how long that will be the case given the arrival of the island’s new ‘‘rock star’’ residents.
— Sydney Morning Herald