Antony Catalano’s journey traces his rise from a Fairfax property journalist to one of Australia’s most influential media & property magnates. The blog explores his creation of Metro Media, leadership of Domain, acquisition of ACM & ventures like View Media Group & Raes on Wategos-alongside his high-profile property empire & boardroom battles. It paints a portrait of “The Cat” as a bold, ambitious deal-maker redefining regional media & luxury real estate in 2025.
Early Life & Career Beginnings
Born & raised in Melbourne, Victoria, Antony Catalano grew up in a middle-class family that valued hard work & education. His early fascination with communication led him to study media & journalism before joining The Age, where he began his career as a property reporter.
In the early 1990s, real estate journalism was an unglamorous beat, but Catalano quickly turned it into one of the paper’s most profitable sections. His sharp instincts for advertising & his ability to link editorial with commercial strategy would define his career for decades to come. Colleagues from The Age recall his relentless energy, persuasive charm & deep understanding of the property market-traits that later earned him the nickname “The Cat.”
The Rise of Metro Media Publishing
After more than a decade with Fairfax, Catalano was made redundant in 2008 during a corporate restructure. Rather than retreat, he turned the setback into opportunity. That same year, he founded Metro Media Publishing, a network of suburban & regional newspapers such as Melbourne Weekly, The Weekly Review & Geelong Independent.
These titles quickly attracted premium real-estate advertising, stripping millions in revenue from The Age’s property section. By combining editorial storytelling with local property listings, Catalano built an empire that blended community journalism with commercial success-long before “content marketing” became an industry term.
Fairfax Media eventually had to buy him back. In 2015, the company acquired Metro Media Publishing for over $100 million in cash and shares, restoring Catalano as a key executive. It was a full-circle moment: the man they had let go now held a stake in their survival.
Dominating the Digital Property Scene
Catalano’s understanding of local markets & advertiser psychology made him the natural choice to lead Domain Group, Fairfax’s digital property portal. As Chief Executive Officer, he pushed Domain to challenge REA Group’s dominance by merging print credibility with aggressive digital innovation.
Under his leadership, Domain’s revenue & market share surged, turning it into a serious rival to realestate.com.au. In 2017, when Fairfax spun Domain into a separately listed ASX company, Catalano became its first CEO. But his tenure was short-lived-just two months after the public listing, he resigned in early 2018 following the Nine-Fairfax merger, citing strategic differences.
Despite his exit, the period cemented his reputation as one of the sharpest deal-makers in Australian media-someone who understood both the editorial soul of a publication & the hard commercial realities behind it.
Building Australian Community Media (ACM)
In 2019, Catalano joined forces with billionaire Alex Waislitz through the Thorney Investment Group to acquire Australian Community Media (ACM) from Nine Entertainment. The $115 million deal included more than 160 regional mastheads, including The Canberra Times, Newcastle Herald & The Border Mail.
Under Catalano’s leadership as Executive Chairman, ACM underwent a significant digital transformation. He invested heavily in subscription models, video journalism & digital classifieds that targeted regional audiences. By 2023, ACM boasted over 600 journalists & reached four million readers weekly, becoming Australia’s most influential network of regional newspapers.
Catalano’s partnership with Waislitz was structured as a 50-50 joint venture under the company 19 Cashews Pty Ltd, a name that would later reappear in other investments & controversies.
Antony Catalano & the Nick Bolton Fallout
For years, Antony Catalano maintained a close alliance with financier Nick Bolton, known for his bold plays in the corporate takeover world. Their partnership helped orchestrate one of the most audacious corporate raids in recent memory: a move on investment giant Magellan via Keybridge Capital, which Bolton controlled & Catalano backed.
In 2023, the duo pressured Magellan to pay out-of-the-money options-a deal that earned Keybridge nearly $20 million. But by late 2024, their friendship had crumbled. Catalano accused Bolton of self-dealing & corporate misconduct, while Bolton claimed Catalano owed Keybridge a stake in ACM and $4.5 million in dividends.
Their dispute spilled into public view, pulling in investors like Geoff Wilson and reviving long-standing feuds. Catalano dismissed Bolton’s claims as “a smokescreen by a failed CEO,” while Bolton labelled Catalano “a corporate sociopath.” The partnership that once united two of Australia’s most controversial businessmen was over.
Southern Cross Austereo & the Sandon Standoff
Catalano’s appetite for corporate power didn’t stop there. Alongside Waislitz, he acquired a 14.42 per cent stake in Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) through 19 Cashews. The pair had attempted a full takeover in 2024 but were rejected by the SCA board.
In 2025, Catalano publicly criticised activist investor Sandon Capital for its campaign against SCA, calling it “an insult to all shareholders who obtained their shares legally.” Behind the scenes, Catalano was exploring ways to merge ACM’s regional print assets with SCA’s vast radio network-a vision of integrated regional media that could rival Nine and News Corp’s national reach.
Although those plans stalled, the investment reaffirmed Catalano’s long-term ambition to rebuild Australia’s regional media landscape into a modern, cross-platform powerhouse.
View Media Group & the New Digital Frontier
In 2022, Catalano and Waislitz co-founded View Media Group (VMG), bringing together a network of property & technology businesses, including realestateview.com.au & Bendigo and Adelaide Bank as key stakeholders. Catalano served as Executive Chairman, steering the company toward competing directly with Domain & REA Group.
By 2025, VMG was valued at around $220 million, thanks to its integrated real-estate ecosystem spanning listings, mortgages, data analytics & digital advertising. One of its standout ventures was ViewJobs, a regional employment platform relaunched in 2024 by entrepreneur Lewis Romano (formerly of Credit Clear).
Backed by Catalano and Waislitz, ViewJobs began raising $6 million in Series A funding at a $50 million valuation, positioning itself as a home-grown alternative to SEEK. The funds are being channelled into AI-driven job matching & expansion across Australia’s regional labour markets-part of Catalano’s vision to connect every element of community life under one digital umbrella.
Antony Catalano’s Real Estate Empire
St Kilda & the Saint Moritz Penthouse
Catalano’s property investments mirror his media ambition-bold, stylish & headline-grabbing. In 2019, he purchased the Saint Moritz penthouse in St Kilda for a record $30 million off the plan from developer Tim Gurner. The 700-square-metre, six-bedroom residence with a 175-square-metre terrace redefined Melbourne luxury.
The apartment was designed by Fender Katsalidis & Koichi Takada, with interiors by David Hicks & included a rooftop pool, private bar & basement parking for up to 14 cars.
In 2025, he listed the property for $33 million–$36 million, setting the stage for another suburb record. The listing was accompanied by an unprecedented marketing campaign: a four-page gloss wrap in The Australian newspaper, the first ever for a single property.
“I believe high-quality print remains vital,” Catalano said, defending his use of traditional media even in the digital age. The campaign also ran digital billboards and achieved cross-platform visibility to over four million Australians-a blend of old-school prestige & new-age strategy.
Byron Bay Ventures & Raes on Wategos
Catalano’s growing connection to Byron Bay has been both glamorous and controversial. In 2020, he acquired the luxury Raes on Wategos Hotel, a boutique landmark frequented by celebrities & high-net-worth travellers. By 2023, he added a nearby $9 million beachfront property & lodged plans for a $55 million dual-mansion project overlooking Wategos Beach.
The Byron Shire Council rejected the proposal in 2025, citing bulk scale & environmental concerns. Around the same time, Catalano was involved in a public altercation with neighbour Giovanni D’Ercole, a jeweller who owns the Love & Hatred boutique. The two clashed at a coffee cart outside Raes on 26 February 2025, with bystanders reportedly separating them. Police closed the investigation with no charges.
Locals later accused Catalano of being “aggressive” over a parking dispute, sparking fiery threads in community Facebook groups. To some, he symbolised the influx of wealthy outsiders reshaping Byron’s character; to others, he was simply another high-profile resident defending his space in paradise.
The Mount Buller Penthouse
Further south, Catalano owns a five-bedroom, five-bathroom penthouse in the Timbuktu complex at Mount Buller, purchased off the plan for nearly $7 million in 2021. Designed by Cera Stribley Architects, it boasts panoramic views of the Delatite Valley and Mt Stirling, plus heated terraces & a Jacuzzi.
Listed in 2025 with a price guide of $9.25 million, the property has been called “the most exclusive residence on the mountain.” It was also nominated for the 2023 Alpine Design Awards for its architecture & sustainable materials.
Philanthropy & Regional Journalism Advocacy
Away from the boardroom and property market, Antony Catalano has supported initiatives aimed at strengthening regional journalism. Through ACM, he has helped fund community reporting scholarships, local grant programs & partnerships with universities to train the next generation of rural reporters.
While not as publicised as his business ventures, these efforts reflect his belief that independent, community-based journalism must survive if regional Australia is to thrive.
Antony Catalano & the Domain Sale Rumours
In early 2025, speculation erupted that Nine Entertainment was considering selling Domain, its struggling property portal. Analysts quickly turned their attention to one potential buyer-Antony Catalano.
Once dubbed Domain’s “prodigal son,” he was seen as the only figure capable of reviving it. But with Domain valued at $2.2 billion, many doubted he would make the move. Sources close to Catalano suggested he would rather “watch Domain wither and die” while building View Media Group into its successor.
Yet others believe his competitive streak could one day draw him back. As one former colleague put it:
“The thing about Antony is that he loves a deal- & he never forgets a score.”
Antony Catalano’s Reputation & Public Image
Across his career, Catalano has attracted both admiration & controversy. Supporters see him as a visionary entrepreneur who bridges legacy media & digital transformation. Critics call him combative and controlling, a relentless deal-maker whose projects often spark friction with partners & regulators.
His allies include billionaires, bankers & former editors; his rivals range from corporate activists to ex-friends like Nick Bolton. But even detractors concede his resilience. Each setback — redundancy, boardroom conflict, or public dispute-seems only to sharpen his next play.
Often compared to Kerry Packer for his risk appetite & instinct for timing, Catalano embodies a uniquely Australian mix of business bravado & media intuition.
Recent Developments (Late 2025)
As 2025 draws to a close, Catalano continues to expand his digital footprint. Reports suggest he’s exploring new equity partnerships to accelerate View Media Group’s growth & potentially partially divest ACM stakes to fund future acquisitions.
At the same time, he remains active in property development circles, with renewed interest in luxury real estate projects across Victoria & New South Wales.
Those close to him say the 58-year-old shows no signs of slowing down-if anything, his next chapter may be his most ambitious yet.
Conclusion-The Many Lives of “The Cat”
From a suburban journalist to the executive chairman of one of Australia’s largest independent media networks, Antony Catalano’s story is one of bold reinvention. He has survived redundancy, corporate warfare & public scrutiny-always landing on his feet.
Whether orchestrating billion-dollar media manoeuvres or redefining luxury property marketing, Catalano remains one of Australia’s most compelling business figures. His empire stretches from newsrooms to penthouses, from print to AI-driven platforms-a reminder that even in an era of disruption, some instincts never go out of style.
As one investor quipped, “The Cat always lands upright — and usually on something worth millions.”
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