Damien Gance, director and pharmacist at Chemist Warehouse, has built a remarkable personal and professional legacy, becoming a billionaire through strategic business and property investments. He and his wife Sasha Robertson made headlines with a record-breaking $33.5 million Byron Bay home. His story blends retail success, luxury real estate, and visionary leadership.
Introduction
The rise of Chemist Warehouse has changed Australia’s retail landscape, creating a group of multibillion-dollar entrepreneurs and rich-listers. Among these leaders, Damien Gance stands out for his role as a director, pharmacist, and billionaire. The empire’s sharemarket listing and merger with ASX-listed Sigma Healthcare formed a combined entity with a market capitalisation of $33bn, allowing founders and key staff to invest in residences, property acquisitions, and luxury estates across the nation. The journey reflects not just success, but also strategic foresight and commitment.
Australia now sees high-rollers emerge from the pharmacy giant, acquiring luxury houses in Byron Bay and other premium areas. The couple’s Malia home on Belongil Beach showcases how spectacular beachfront, cash purchases, and steps from the sand have redefined luxury standards. Their empire of 39 pharmacies demonstrates the careful growth of a retail powerhouse, blending experience with ambition.
In Melbourne, the quiet suburban pubs witnessed deals and discussions that would shape future expansions. The combination of monumental year, merger, and property decisions signals that wealth management goes hand in hand with business acumen. Damien Gance and peers continue to exemplify this in Byron Bay, Toorak, and other key regions.
Damien Gance and Sasha Robertson
Damien Gance, along with his wife Sasha Robertson, purchased a $33.5 million Byron Bay house entirely in cash, requiring no mortgage. As the first franchisee in 2000, he leveraged his position as chief commercial officer and board director to solidify his stake in Chemist Warehouse. The annual salary of $674,000 complements his shareholding, turning him into a billionaire. The couple’s vision reflected more than ownership—it highlighted the importance of property acquisitions, beachfront blocks, and estates designed by Workroom Design.
Their Mediterranean-inspired, five-bedroom, six-bathroom home on Belongil Beach estate occupies 2097-square-metres, steps away from the sand, formerly owned by entertainers John ‘Strop’ Cornell and Delvene Delaney of the Paul Hogan Show. The property reset the Byron Bay house price record, surpassing Wategos Watermark, sold for $30 million in late 2023 to Brisbane developer Adam Flaskas. These moves exemplify the strategic and personal choices Damien Gance makes when aligning his residential life with business success.
Damien Gance also maintains a home in Melbourne’s posh Toorak neighborhood, purchased for $5.8 million, highlighting a blend of business foresight and lifestyle. His ability to invest in headline-making properties demonstrates the integration of professional achievements with personal wealth growth, further emphasizing his director and pharmacist roles in shaping the Chemist Warehouse empire.
Chemist Warehouse Success and Expansion
The Chemist Warehouse story is one of retail innovation, beginning with Jack Gance, Sam Gance, and Mario Verrocchi in 1972 and 1980. Following the merger with ASX-listed Sigma Healthcare, the combined entity achieved a market capitalisation of $33 billion, highlighting the magnitude of their success. With 900 stores and expansion plans across Australia and Europe, the empire demonstrates consistent growth.
Damien Gance’s role as chief commercial officer and board director was pivotal during this expansion. Strategic decisions, careful investments, and overseeing retail operations ensured that the sharemarket listing turned founders into multimillionaires, while the combined entity continues to dominate pharmacy distribution. The success story highlights that business acumen and visionary leadership are inseparable from wealth creation and luxury residences acquisition.
Toorak Property Acquisitions
In Toorak, Jack Gance and his wife Evelynne purchased a $80 million-plus block of land featuring two houses, considered a prime development opportunity. Their acquisition places them near Sam Gance, who owns a $43.1 million home. The area reflects concentration of billionaires and multimillionaires investing in grandest mansions and sizeable properties.
Mario Verrocchi purchased a six-bedroom home for $20 million-plus, while Matthew Verrocchi and his wife Nicole acquired seven adjacent houses for a combined $27.83 million, obtaining a planning permit to construct a new residence. Between 2017 and 2024, they added adjoining houses, spending $5.78 million, 2.4 million, 5 million, 2.75 million, and 4.5 million to create a combined estate.
These purchases demonstrate a strategic approach to property accumulation, combining investment foresight, estate planning, and high-end residential development. Damien Gance’s peers showcase that careful selection of locations, luxury homes, and planning permits forms the foundation of long-term wealth management.
Sydney and Byron Bay Property Highlights
In Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Tony Bassaly and Angela purchased a three-bedroom, beachfront Bronte home for $22.65 million in January, previously owned by F45 co-founder Rob Deutsch. The area exemplifies premium real estate and the trend of high-rollers investing in luxury estates.
In Byron Bay, Damien Gance’s Belongil Beach home at $33.5 million sets the new record, while Brett Clark, AM and Maria acquired Copperstone in Bangalow for $27.5 million. The Oroton fashion family empire previously owned the estate, highlighting the flow of premium properties among Australia’s business elite.
Jeff Wasley and Tanya purchased a $12.5 million mansion in Hamilton, Queensland, featuring a tequila bar, magnesium pool, and spa. They also acquired a three-storey New Farm home for $25 million, gaining $16.5 million in just three years. These investments underscore the strategic nature of property purchases and the integration of financial success into residential lifestyle choices.
Unique Property Stories
Azman Haroon and Razia placed a caveat on a Toorak property, later settled in the names of Abdul Haroon and Saiaz Haroon for $33.288 million. Jason Yacoub purchased a Kew mansion for $15.6 million, and Rami Saleh with Elizabeth acquired a seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom Hawthorn mansion with a tennis court, pool, and media room for $19 million. These purchases reflect diverse strategies in estate acquisition and underscore how wealth and business leadership influence luxury property investment.
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