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More than 100 high-powered Australians were in the festive spirit as they gathered for the nation’s most elite Christmas party.
A who’s who of Australian showbiz, politics, business, sport and media gathered at the palatial mansion News Corp co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch shares with wife Sarah in the exclusive Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill on Thursday night.
The soiree at the harbourside mansion is the annual end-of-year bash for friends to the News Corp world Down Under – and its biggest stars.
Celebrations were bathed in glorious Sydney sunshine, unlike last year when rain threatened to dampen festivities.
Those on the prestigious guest list received an invitation featuring the high-powered couple in front of a Christmas tree drawn by The Australian’s cartoonist Johannes Leak.
Sky News host Peter Stefanovic was among the first arrivals, dressed in a white business shirt carrying a suit jacket.
He was followed by one of Murdoch’s neighbours, News Corp Australasia chief executive Michael Miller hand-in-hand with his wife.
Lachlan Murdoch and wife Sarah held their annual Christmas bash on Thursday night
Sky News presenters Laura Jayes (left) and Paul Murray arrive for a big night of festivities at Lachlan Murdoch’s Bellevue Hill mansion
Sky News host Peter Stefanovic was among the first arrivals to the Christmas bash
News Corp Australasia Chief Executive Michael Miller and his wife arrive for the annual shindig of their Bellevue Hill neighbours
Nova breakfast host Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli (right) arrived with his wife Lisa (left) and a friend
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce arrived ready to let his hair down after a tumultuous year for the airline, while Sky News host Andrew Bolt arrived at the Murdoch mansion in a taxi.
Sky News presenter Laura Jayes turned up in a stunning yellow dress with a plunging neckline and accessorised with dangling earrings and gold bangles. She was accompanied by her firebrand colleague Paul Murray.
Sky news host Sharri Markson arrived in a long flowing printed dress.
NRL chief Andrew Abdo, joined by his wife Anna, led the line-up of sports figures on the guest list which also included AFL boss Gillon McLachlan, former Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop and Cricket Australia board member Richard Freudenstein.
Sharri Markson arrived ready to party in a long flowing printed dress and high heels
2GB breakfast broadcaster Ben Fordham was among those to score an invite
Sky News host Andrew Bolt got a cab to Lachlan Murdoch’s mansion in Sydney’s east
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo (left) attended the Murdoch Christmas bash with wife Anna (right)
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce arrived ready to let his hair down after a tumultuous year
Lachlan Murdoch’s barrister Sue Crysanthou arrived at the party with a gift for the hosts
Ryan Stokes and his wife Claire arrive for the Christmas party of the year hosted by Lachlan Murdoch at his eastern suburbs mansion
Guests mingled with highl flying executives, including Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delaney and Seven Group Holdings boss Ryan Stokes.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and retiring health minister Brad Hazzard led a host of invited politicians which included Liberal senator Sarah Henderson and former federal minister turned opposition treasurer Angus Taylor.
Women donned designer party gowns and heels, while most of the men wore dressed-down suits with sneakers. But the jackets quickly came off and their sleeves were rolled up due to Sydney’s warm weather.
‘I’ve never seen so much Dom Perignon,’ one person involved in the bash told the Australian Financial Review.
Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn, Macquarie Bank chief Shemara Wikramanayake Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko and NSW government public servant Michael Coutts-Trotter also mingled with the Murdochs.
Mr Coutts-Trotter’s wife, federal minister Tanya Plibersek, arrived two hours later.
Former Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop (pictured with wife Kathy) was among several high profile sports administrators on the guest list
Teacher’s Pet podcast creator Hadley Thomas arrived hand-in-hand with wife and fellow journalist Ruth Mathewson
Murdoch’s barrister Sue Crysanthou also mingled with the star-studded guest list.
A host of radio stars also attended, including rival breakfast broadcasters Ben Fordham from 2GB and Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli from Nova, which is owned by Murdoch’s private investment company.
One noticeable no-show who attended last year’s bash was Kate Ritchie following her shock departure from her Nova radio show.
The former Home and Away star confirmed on Thursday she’s in rehab due to an ‘unhealthy reliance on alcohol.’
Also missing was Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who’s isolating at Kirribilli House after he was struck down with Covid-19 earlier in the week.
Federal opposition treasurer Angus Taylor led the line-up of politicians in attendance. He’s pictured with his wife Louise (left)
Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn was also among more than 100 guests invited
Sunday Telegraph editor Mick Carroll (left) arrived with News Corp Australia Group Executive Corporate Affairs Campbell Reid (middle)
The Australian editor Michelle Gunn (left) was accompanied by her colleague, foreign editor Greg Sheridan (right)
Rita Panahi from Sky News strolled into the party wearing a flowing pink gown
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