1 hour ago
1
The joint CEOs of prominent beauty retailer Mecca are being accused of bringing a “slum” to an inner-city neighbourhood, as residents slam the condition of a derelict property owned by the wealthy executives.
The site in Richmond sits next to Mecca’s head office and houses dilapidated, empty buildings with graffiti covering many of the external walls. There have also been reports by nearby residents of squatters living inside.
Records indicate that the property on the corner of Wangaratta and Tanner streets has been held since December 2025 by Amalfi Nominee Pty Ltd – a company owned by Mecca co-CEOs Jo Horgan and Peter Wetenhall.
Resident Carol Pelham-Thorman has lived on a neighbouring street for three decades. She said that the neglected site is disrespectful to her local community, particularly because it is owned by such a prominent company.
“The building’s deteriorating … The actual fabric of the building is falling apart … It’s an ugly, unsafe, unhealthy site,” Pelham-Thorman said.
“It’s a mecca for antisocial behaviour. In our community, we feel a sense of powerlessness and hopelessness.”
A spokesperson for Horgan and Wetenhall said in a statement that the couple is committed to maintaining the site, adding that one building had been recently repainted and that work was scheduled on the second.
“Since acquiring the properties, [the owners] have invested substantially to secure and improve them. They have also worked with the council and engaged an independent contractor to manage the ongoing removal of graffiti which remains a challenge in the area,” they said.
The spokesperson did not give a timeframe as to when plans for the site would be finalised or when construction would commence.
Horgan founded Mecca in 1999 with her husband Wetenhall. The latest Financial Review Rich List estimated the power couple’s net worth at a staggering $2.17 billion.
That wealth has been built off Mecca’s incredible success.
Filings with the corporate regulator show the couple received $87 million in dividends during the last financial year. Mecca had a total revenue of $1.43 billion over the same period.
Last October, the retailer unveiled its flagship store in Bourke Street following a major refurbishment.
The company is now completing construction works on a separate building near its head office in Richmond.
Another Richmond resident, Stephen McCulloch, described the poorly maintained site as a constant eyesore that is having a detrimental effect on his community. He said that the problem could be easily rectified through an inexpensive paint job.
“At the end of the day, it’s an embarrassment for local residents … we feel embarrassed to have guests around,” McCulloch said. “The graffiti just looks like we live in a slum … we feel like we’re in complete limbo.”
He said that more than a dozen residents in the surrounding streets have been fighting to improve the condition of the buildings and that many had directly contacted Mecca to voice their concerns. Both McCulloch and Pelham-Thorman said that residents shouldn’t have to foot the clean-up bill through council rates.
Yarra City Council mayor Stephen Jolly said that he was confused as to why the building owners wouldn’t prioritise cleaning up of the site. He called the condition of the site a “stain” on the otherwise good name of the popular retailer.
“They’re a really loved brand by millions of Australians. I just can’t for the life of me understand why they wouldn’t just fix this mess. It’s disgusting … it’s ugly,” Jolly said.
The mayor added that since the building is privately owned, its maintenance doesn’t fall under the responsibilities of council. “We just need [the owners] to act. Just clear it up. And everyone can get on with their lives,” he said.
While residents acknowledged that the plans to demolish and renovate the buildings would ultimately be beneficial for the street, they said it was unfair of the owners to not provide a solution in the interim.
“I think that a property owner does have a responsibility to keep their building to some kind of state, for the sake of everybody else in the community,” McCulloch said.
“We need to be respectful of neighbours and other local residents, as opposed to just being self-centred … which is what Mecca seems to be doing in this regard.”
A Yarra Council spokesperson said that compliance officers had reached out to the property owners earlier this month about removing the graffiti, but were yet to receive a response.
“Council’s approach to compliance is to work with property owners to maintain the amenity of our community. While this collaborative approach has resolved many concerns, it has not been sufficient to compel action in every case,” they said.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
