Billionaire pub baron Justin Hemmes hosts lavish cocktail party followed by a $13,500-a-head dinner at his Vaucluse mansion for Scott Morrison and the Liberals Billionaire pub baron Justin Hemmes hosted Liberal Party cocktails at his house Wealthy attendees reportedly forked out as much as $3,300 each to be there Several senior Liberal figures attended including Prime Minister Scott Morrison By Charlie Moore For Daily Mail Australia Published: 00:48 BST, 7 May 2019 | Updated: 02:05 BST, 7 May 2019 1 Viewcomments Billionaire pub baron Justin Hemmes hosted senior Liberal Party figures at his Sydney mansion on Monday night in a fundraiser for their election campaign. The 45-year-old held a cocktail party at his sprawling residence known as The Hermitage in the exclusive eastern Sydney suburb of Vaucluse. Wealthy attendees reportedly forked out $3,300 each to be there - and a select few paid $13,750 to have dinner with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who arrived at 6pm. Sydney pub baron Justin Hemmes (pictured with former partner Kate Fowler) hosted senior Liberal Party figures at his Sydney mansion on Monday night in a fundraiser for their election campaign The 45-year-old held a cocktail party at his sprawling residence (pictured) known as The Hermitage in Vaucluse, Sydney Accompanying their leader were several senior Liberals including party president Nick Greiner, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield and Small Business Minister Michaelia Cash. Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher and Trade Minister Simon Birmingham also made an appearance, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Prominent Liberal Party supporters who attended included Seven West executive Bruce McWilliam and PremierState lobbyist Michael Photios. Also chipping in to the Liberal Party coffers were SCG Trust and Western Sydney Giants chairman Tony Shepherd and members of construction tycoon Tony Sukkar's family. Pub and hotel owner Mr Hemmes has hosted fundraisers for the Liberal Party several times before. He is the chief executive of his family's hospitality firm Merivale, which owns several pubs and hotels in Sydney, including The Ivy, Coogee Pavilion and Newport Arms. Accompanying their leader were several senior Liberals including party president Nick Greiner (pictured with his partner Carolyn Fletcher) Minister for Small Business Michaelia Cash (pictured in the Senate) was also at the function Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher and Trade Minister Simon Birmingham (pictured) also made an appearance Mr Hemmes has been in charge of the group since 1997 and is assisted by his sister Bettina, who is part owner of the empire started by his father, John Hemmes. John named the company after his wife. Mr Hemmes' fortune reached $1.05billion earlier this year. He came close to making the billionaire's list last year but his fortune fell short at an estimated $951million in May. His net worth four years ago was estimated at $200million. Mr Hemmes has been dubbed one of Australia's most eligible bachelors after the businessman split from the mother of his two children, Kate Fowler, last year. Earlier this month, he denied reports he was seeing model Montana Cox. From $20 to $1billion: The life and times of the Hemmes family Justin Hemmes is the only son of Merivale Group founder and nightclub mogul John Hemmes. Hemmes Snr left the Netherlands following World War II with $20 in his pocket and started a new life in New Zealand. He then moved to Australia where he met his wife Merivale and built a fashion brand in her name. The pair had two children, Justin and a daughter, Bettina. 'I grew up in a very exciting life. My parents got so much pleasure out of the smallest things,' Justin told Harper's Bazaar Australia. 'They also had a group of really interesting friends. Wherever we went, whatever we did, it was always exciting, colourful and larger than life.' Hemmes Snr grew Merivale into a portfolio of more than 50 restaurants, bars, pubs and hotels in Sydney. He has since changed Sydney's social scene more than any other businessman or woman. Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility