An afternoon altercation in Sydney’s eastern suburbs involving the son of a prominent businessman and a well-known real estate figure has spilled into the courts, with assault-related charges laid and an extraordinary backstory emerging involving a controversial multimillion-dollar development proposal.

The incident unfolded on Saturday, May 23, at Club Rose Bay, where boutique commercial property developer Nicholas Couloumbis and a group of eight men allegedly confronted Angus Onisforou and his close friend Luke Gaffney.

Angus is the polo-playing son of Greek-Cypriot-Australian cattle baron and property investor Theo Onisforou, best known as the visionary behind Paddington’s fashion retail strip The Intersection.

According to an eyewitness, the confrontation between Couloumbis and the younger Onisforou quickly escalated.

‘He went up to him and said, “You’re a c**t, and I’m gonna get you and I’m gonna get your father,”‘ a witness claimed.

The eyewitness alleged Couloumbis then punched Gaffney in the face.

‘Then security rushed in and broke it up,’ the onlooker added.

NSW Police confirmed that an incident had taken place.

Angus Onisforou (seen with his model ex-girlfriend Meghan Blake Irwin in March last year) was involved in an alleged altercation with Nicholas Couloumbis at Club Rose Bay last month

Commercial property developer Nicholas Couloumbis claims he was acting in self-defence

‘On Saturday, May 23, 2026, officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were informed of an alleged assault between a 30-year-old man and a 26-year-old man at a licensed premises in Rose Bay,’ a police spokesperson said.

‘Following inquiries, police arrested a 30-year-old man at an address in Pyrmont on Thursday, May 28, 2026.

‘He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station and charged with attempting to stalk or intimidate with intent to cause fear of harm, and common assault.’

Police said the man was granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on July 16.

The origins of the dispute extend far beyond a typical bar-room brawl – though I’m hearing wildly different versions of what exactly went down.

According to one account, police seized CCTV from the venue and investigators believe it is ‘an open-and-shut case’, with Onisforou and Gaffney allegedly having no prior knowledge of Couloumbis before the confrontation.

Couloumbis disputes this, however, maintaining he acted in self-defence and that he will be fighting the charges against him.

Meanwhile, sources familiar with the incident note there has been strong objection to a controversial development application lodged by Couloumbis’ company, Toohey Miller.

The incident unfolded on Saturday, May 23, at Club Rose Bay (pictured)

Sources familiar with the incident note there has been strong objection to a controversial development application lodged by Couloumbis’ (centre) company, Toohey Miller

Theo isn’t the only objector. MP Alex Greenwich and Woollahra councillor Harriet Price are also uniting to ‘stop the Paddington tower’

The proposed Oxford160 project would deliver 44 apartments in a nine-storey building on Oxford Street in Paddington, directly opposite Victoria Barracks and alongside The Intersection.

The $78.3million proposal has become one of the most fiercely contested developments in Sydney, attracting opposition from local residents and concern from several Woollahra councillors.

Among those to publicly object was Angus’ father, Theo.

Last month, Theo Onisforou spoke against the proposal at a community meeting organised by independent MP Alex Greenwich and Woollahra councillor Harriet Price.

The meeting drew strong local interest and was attended by investigative reporter Pat McGrath, with footage understood to be for an upcoming Four Corners investigation.

The ABC program is also said to include the Club Rose Bay altercation.

I spoke to Mr Couloumbis on Monday afternoon.

He told me he had only acted ‘in self-defence’, adding: ‘No, that [the assault] is not the case at all, and I look forward to defending myself in court.’

Angus Onisforou previously dated model Meghan Blake Irwin and was also linked to influencer Indi Thew (right), a former houseguest of Justin Hemmes

Angus Onisforou is a familiar face on Sydney’s social circuit.

He previously dated model Meghan Blake Irwin and was also linked to influencer Indi Thew, a former houseguest of Justin Hemmes.

Meanwhile, Couloumbis comes from a family connected to the original Toohey Miller architectural practice, established in 1955, and has built the modern business around design-led urban development projects.

His Oxford160 proposal has attracted significant backlash, with public submissions lodged through the NSW Planning Portal describing the development as oversized, out of character with the surrounding heritage streetscape, and an inappropriate use of affordable housing incentives.

Critics have also argued the project would result in a net loss of existing low-cost housing, fuelling further opposition to what has become one of Paddington’s most divisive planning battles.