The historic Oxford Hotel of North Adelaide has closed amid a multimillion-dollar legal battle between property magnate Con Makris and his daughter, the proprietor.
After emigrating to Australia from Greece in 1963, Makris, now 76, took root in Adelaide. He founded Makris Group in 1980, going on to build an extensive portfolio of commercial property, mostly shopping centres, worth an estimated $800 million. In 2016 he moved to the Gold Coast.
Makris Group holds the freehold of the Oxford, built 1859, and for the past eight years it has been under lease to Anastasia and Grant Murray.
Makris’ marriage to his first wife Desma produced a son, Ross, Anastasia, who is 52 and fraternal twin to sister Jennifer, and then Jason, who is now CEO of Makris Group.
Tragically, early 2021 the Murray’s young daughter, Mira, was diagnosed with an extremely rare ‘atypical teratoid rhabdoid’ tumour. Despite what was a courageous fight, the five-year-old lost her battle in May 2022.
That month, the Murrays initiated legal action against Anastasia’s father in the Magistrates Court. It was soon moved to the District Court.
Anastasia claims a quarter of Makris’ estate is held in a ‘constructive trust’ on her behalf. In a statement, she said the Oxford was part of a larger family dispute that had been “festering for some time”. She is seeking to prevent her father from pushing her out of the family empire, and have ownership of the iconic pub transferred into her name.
Makris Group claims the Murrays owe over $280k in unpaid rent, but the operators rejected this in a statement of claim filed in court, countering they are owed $1.7 million over renovations at the hotel.
The Murrays relay they are disappointed to have had to vacate after making “significant personal sacrifices”.
After a three-day Big Bang Last Drinks Weekend farewell party, the doors closed on the Oxford Hotel on Sunday night.
In honour of their late daughter, proceeds from the event went toward the Childhood Cancer Association, which Anastasia says remains close to their hearts – praising the support it provides for so many families.
Anastasia and Grant also said they were grateful for the support given by both staff and customers throughout Mira’s illness and passing.
The immediate future of the Oxford remains uncertain, while the family matter is expected to go to trial.
I remember great times at The Oxford when Tim and Andrew ran it and the Wild Turkey Club which they had earlier started at a pub in Pirie Street. The Wild Turkey Club was the first in the world and had the full support of Austin Nichols, who produce the bourbon.