Don Julio 1942 x Marmont at Crown — ‘Pole Position’ Party
On the eve of Melbourne’s most electrifying weekend, the city’s social set gathered at Marmont at Crown for the Don Julio 1942 ‘Pole Position’ Party, a night that perfectly captured the glamour, energy, and spectacle of Formula 1 in Melbourne.
From the moment guests stepped inside, the atmosphere was undeniable. Don Julio 1942 cocktails flowed as the room filled with Melbourne’s A-list, all celebrating the Australian Grand Prix weekend in true style. The buzz in the room was magnetic, one of those nights where you could feel something special building, given that Melanie C from the Spice Girls had entertained the previous year.
Leading the arrivals were Melbourne style icons Bec Judd and Nadia Bartel, joined by close friend Jessie Roberts. Maria Thattil was also spotted enjoying the festivities, alongside renowned cosmetic nurse Alex Pike.
Sitting beside me for part of the evening was radio personality Kent Small, currently filling in for Kyle Sandilands. Not realising it was Smallzy at first, I soon discovered he is every bit the gentleman, happy to listen, engage and never once dominate the conversation with talk of the Sandilands and Jackie O split.
Also in the room were fashion powerhouse Pip Edwards, footwear designer Lana Wilkinson, and Melbourne designer Effie Kats. Hospitality royalty Chris Lucas and Sarah Lucas were enjoying the celebrations, while designers Con Ilio and Alin Le’ Kal mingled among Melbourne’s stylish crowd.
Adding a touch of international glamour was Erika Jayne from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, who arrived in unmistakable Barbie pink. Despite her global fame, she was warm, gracious, and generous with her time, chatting with guests and happily posing for photographs throughout the evening.
Behind the magic of the night was Grant Smillie, the visionary director behind Marmont, who once again delivered what can only be described as the party of the season.
Then came the moment the crowd had been waiting for!
Global superstar Ty Dolla $ign made a dramatic arrival at Crown in a Rolls-Royce, instantly sending excitement through the venue. Fresh from his 2026 Grammy nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Wholeheartedly,” he brought undeniable star power to Melbourne’s Grand Prix celebrations.
But it was Swae Lee who took things to another level. In true Californian style, he climbed straight on top of the bar, turning the entire venue into a stage. His beats were electric, and when hits like “Reason” dropped, the A-list crowd erupted into a frenzy.
Phones shot into the air to capture both superstar artists, cocktails paused mid-sip and the dancefloor exploded with energy. It was one of those surreal pinch-me moments, where you look around and realise what’s unfolding in front of you—right here at Marmont at Crown in the middle of Melbourne’s Grand Prix weekend.
Honestly, it was the hottest party of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix and if anyone knows how to deliver a moment like that, it’s Grant Smillie. Last year he brought Melanie C to the city, and this year he’s raised the bar yet again.
At this point you must ask: is there anything this DJ-turned-restaurateur can’t do?
One thing is certain, when it comes to Grand Prix celebrations, Marmont at Crown has firmly secured pole position.
By Melinda Sullivan
Please visit https://www.crownmelbourne.com.au/restaurants/marmont
