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=Con Polites=
=Con Polites=
{{Short description|Australian businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Con Polites
| birth_name = Constantine George Polites
| birth_date = {{birth date|1919|03|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Port Pirie]], South Australia, Australia
| death_date = {{death date and age|2001|09|22|1919|03|29|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Adelaide]], South Australia, Australia
| nationality =
| education =
| occupation = Businessman and entrepreneur
| known_for = Commercial Property
| awards =
}}


'''Constantine George "Con" Polites''' was (1919 - 2001) was an Australian businessman, known in particular as a commercial property tycoon in South Australia<ref name="AdelaideAZ">{{cite web |title=Ubiquitous signs in the Adelaide CBD the legacy of Con Polites' prolific purchasing of cheap buildings from 1960s |url=https://adelaideaz.com/articles/ubiquitous--polites--signs-the-legacy-of-property-buyup-from-1960s- |website=Adelaide AZ |publisher=Adelaide AZ |access-date=1 January 2025}}</ref>.
'''Constantine George "Con" Polites''' was (29 March 1919 - 22 September 2001) was an Australian businessman, known in particular as a commercial property tycoon in South Australia.<ref name="AdelaideAZ">{{cite web |title=Ubiquitous signs in the Adelaide CBD the legacy of Con Polites' prolific purchasing of cheap buildings from 1960s |url=https://adelaideaz.com/articles/ubiquitous--polites--signs-the-legacy-of-property-buyup-from-1960s- |website=Adelaide AZ |publisher=Adelaide AZ |access-date=1 January 2025}}</ref>


==Early Life==
==Early Life==
Con Polites was born in Port Pirie to Greek immigrant parents. He left school at 15 and became a shoe repairer, later running a delicatessen, working in a Woolworths supermarket, and managing a munitions factory during World War II<ref name="AFR-profile">{{cite news |title=Con Polities |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/con-politis-19900406-kanp4 |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=The Australian Financial Review |publisher=Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Ltd |date=6 April 1990}}</ref>. As a young man he moved to Sydney where he worked in the taxi, car hire, and catering industries before returning to Adelaide in 1959<ref name="NTSA">{{cite web |last1=Etherington |first1=Norman |title=The Polites Heritage Empire |url=https://issuu.com/nationaltrustofsouthaustralia/docs/heritage_living_autumn_2021/s/18831663 |website=Issuu |publisher=National Trust of South Australia |access-date=1 January 2025}}</ref>.
Con Polites was born in Port Pirie to Greek immigrant parents. He left school at 15 and became a shoe repairer, later running a delicatessen, working in a Woolworths supermarket, and managing a munitions factory during World War II.<ref name="AFR-profile">{{cite news |title=Con Polities |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/con-politis-19900406-kanp4 |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=The Australian Financial Review |publisher=Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Ltd |date=6 April 1990}}</ref> As a young man he moved to Sydney where he worked in the taxi, car hire, and catering industries before returning to Adelaide in 1959.<ref name="NTSA">{{cite web |last1=Etherington |first1=Norman |title=The Polites Heritage Empire |url=https://issuu.com/nationaltrustofsouthaustralia/docs/heritage_living_autumn_2021/s/18831663 |website=Issuu |publisher=National Trust of South Australia |access-date=1 January 2025}}</ref>


==Property Empire==
==Property Empire==
Upon his return to Adelaide in 1959, Polites commenced purchasing cheap city buildings, renovating them and leasing them out to migrants <ref>{{cite news |last1=Borg |first1=Rebecca |title=‘Polites’: The blue and white sign baffling tourists in Adelaide’s CBD |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/other-industries/polites-the-blue-and-white-sign-baffling-tourists-in-adelaides-cbd/news-story/ed972b9d954d00158a26a52206fc421a |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=news.com.au |issue=21 April 2023 |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |date=21 April 2023}}</ref>. Establishing the Princes Group, Polites became one of the most visible property owners in South Australia by erecting blue and white "Polites" on most of the properties owned.
Upon his return to Adelaide in 1959, Polites commenced purchasing cheap city buildings, renovating them and leasing them out to migrants.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Borg |first1=Rebecca |title=‘Polites’: The blue and white sign baffling tourists in Adelaide’s CBD |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/other-industries/polites-the-blue-and-white-sign-baffling-tourists-in-adelaides-cbd/news-story/ed972b9d954d00158a26a52206fc421a |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=news.com.au |issue=21 April 2023 |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |date=21 April 2023}}</ref> Establishing the Princes Group, Polites became one of the most visible property owners in South Australia by erecting blue and white "Polites" on most of the properties owned.
In 1989, the Australian Financial Review estimated his minimum net worth to be $70 million<ref>{{cite news |title=Under $100 Million - Con Polites |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/under-100-million-19890512-kaj6s |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=The Australian Financial Review |issue=12 May 1989 |publisher=Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Ltd |date=12 May 1989}}</ref>.
In 1989, the Australian Financial Review estimated his minimum net worth to be $70 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Under $100 Million - Con Polites |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/under-100-million-19890512-kaj6s |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=The Australian Financial Review |issue=12 May 1989 |publisher=Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Ltd |date=12 May 1989}}</ref>

==Profile==
Con Polites became a colourful personality within Adelaide, becoming known for his extravagant Cadillac and Rolls Royce cars, and usually seen smoking a cigar.<ref>{{cite news |title=Off The Record: The Polites family great car sale, and will SA get a second casino? |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/off-the-record-the-polites-family-great-car-sale-and-will-sa-get-a-second-casino/news-story/41eed436259de06fc7c47eaee2abdb81 |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=The Advertiser |issue=21 May 2016 |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |date=21 May 2016}}</ref> Polites was once known as the "king of Hindley Street".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Starick |first1=Paul |title=Disgruntled relative’s cash feud behind macabre Polites cemetery attack |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/disgruntled-relatives-cash-feud-behind-macabre-polites-cemetery-attack/news-story/7c534df150a21f928de0e89f6a6c3f49 |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=The Advertiser |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |date=19 May 2016 |ref=CashFeud}}</ref>

In 1966, Polites funded the expenses of Dutch psychic [[Gerard Croiset]] to travel to Adelaide and unsuccessfully assist in the search for the [[Disappearance of the Beaumont children|missing Beaumont Children]]. Later in 1996, he organised a search of a Somerton Park warehouse, including drilling holes, in an effort to determine if the children were buried there.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rice |first1=Steve |title=Family feud suspected in desecration of late Adelaide property tycoon Con Polites’ grave |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/family-feud-suspected-in-desecration-of-late-adelaide-property-tycoon-con-polites-grave/news-story/fb6c1426931c100551cd83f2480a0351 |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=The Advertiser |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |date=18 May 2016}}</ref>

==Properties==
The following properties were known to be part of the Polites portfolio:

===Adelaide===
* 235 Grenfell Street (The Producers Hotel, formerly Old Exchange Hotel)<ref name="FamilyFeud">{{cite news |last1=Rice |first1=Steve |title=Family feud suspected in desecration of late Adelaide property tycoon Con Polites’ grave |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/family-feud-suspected-in-desecration-of-late-adelaide-property-tycoon-con-polites-grave/news-story/fb6c1426931c100551cd83f2480a0351 |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=The Advertiser |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |date=18 May 2016}}</ref>
* 38 Currie Street
* 66 Gawler Place
* 38 Hindley Street
* 58-60 Hindley Street (Black Bull, formerly Princes Berkeley Hotel)<ref name="CashFeud" />
* 61 Hindley Street
* 84-86 Hindley Street (Kandy Shop Nightclub)
* 90-100 Hindley Street (Woolshed on Hindley, formerly Victoria Hotel and Jules Bar)<ref name="CashFeud" />
* 102 Hindley Street
* 103 Hindley Street
* 254 Hindley Street <ref>{{cite news |title=Polites family triumphs in $3 million, 20-year court battle |url=https://greekherald.com.au/news/australia/polites-family-triumphs-3-million-20-year-court-battle/ |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=The Greek Herald |publisher=The Greek Herald |date=10 February 2022}}</ref>
* 262 Hindley Street (Princes Arcade)<ref name="FamilyFeud" />
* 220 Hutt Street (Clarice Motel)<ref name="FamilyFeud" />
* 46 King William Street
* 107 King William Street (Ambassadors Hotel) <ref>{{cite news |last1=Castello |first1=Renato |title=Ambassadors Hotel on King William Street at centre of dispute between landlords Polites Group and liquidators |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/ambassadors-hotel-on-king-william-street-at-centre-of-dispute-between-landlords-polites-group-and-liquidators/news-story/4c2306089bf5f8504785e841b32fc929 |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=The Advertiser |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |date=21 November 2017}}</ref>
* 118 King William Street (Polites House)
* 1 Rundle Mall
* 291 Rundle Street
* 25 Victoria Street
* 24-28 Waymouth Street

===Glenelg===
* 24-28 Jetty Road (The Colley Hotel, formerly Jetty Bar)

===North Adelaide===
* 73 Lefevre Terrace (Princes Lodge Motel)<ref name="FamilyFeud" />
* 33 O'Connell Street

==Personal Life==
Con Polites married Florence Gemenis and had three children, Elen, Evon and George.

==Events After Death==
* In 2016, Con Polite's grave was excavated as part of an investigation into a mysterious package left at the gravesite of a dead cat wrapped inside a towel inside a pet carrier.<ref>{{cite news |title=Grave of Adelaide property tycoon Con Polites excavated over suspicious package |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-17/grave-of-adelaide-property-tycoon-con-polites-excavated/7423360 |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=17 May 2016}}</ref> A package containing an animal liver, candle, and note with a red ribbon on top was also reportedly found at his son George's home.<ref>{{cite news |title='Dead cat' found at grave of Adelaide property tycoon Con Polites |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/dead-cat-found-at-grave-of-adelaide-property-tycoon-con-polites/cfcab513-5c6d-4c23-8990-c6b99dbd5dbb |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=9NEWS |publisher=Nine Entertainment Co.|date=18 May 2016}}</ref>
* In 2024, a legal dispute over the Polites estate was publicised.<ref>{{cite news |title=Family feud erupts over $1.5 million estate of late Adelaide matriarch Florence Polites |url=https://greekherald.com.au/news/crime/family-feud-erupts-over-1-5-million-estate-of-late-adelaide-matriarch-florence-polites/ |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=The Greek Herald |issue=11 December 2024 |publisher=The Greek Herald}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hough |first1=Andrew |title=The grandson of Con and Florence Polites, Markas Salkanovic, is suing his grandmother’s estate for more money |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/grandson-of-con-and-florence-polites-markas-salkanovic-is-suing-grandmothers-estate-for-more-money/news-story/27c9eb5ef6d1f78f619f5083b3e05861 |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=The Advertiser |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |date=10 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hough |first1=Andrew |title=New twist in Polites legal war as twin grandsons reveal new will claim over matriarch’s multimillion-dollar estate |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/new-twist-in-polites-legal-war-as-twin-grandsons-reveal-new-will-claim-over-matriarchs-multimilliondollar-estate/news-story/1322760869a759923b232be928aee2f8 |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=Sunday Mail |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |date=28 December 2024}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

Latest revision as of 14:15, 1 January 2025


Con Polites

[edit]

Con Polites
Born
Constantine George Polites

(1919-03-29)29 March 1919
Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia
Died22 September 2001(2001-09-22) (aged 82)
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Occupation(s)Businessman and entrepreneur
Known forCommercial Property

Constantine George "Con" Polites was (29 March 1919 - 22 September 2001) was an Australian businessman, known in particular as a commercial property tycoon in South Australia.[1]

Early Life

[edit]

Con Polites was born in Port Pirie to Greek immigrant parents. He left school at 15 and became a shoe repairer, later running a delicatessen, working in a Woolworths supermarket, and managing a munitions factory during World War II.[2] As a young man he moved to Sydney where he worked in the taxi, car hire, and catering industries before returning to Adelaide in 1959.[3]

Property Empire

[edit]

Upon his return to Adelaide in 1959, Polites commenced purchasing cheap city buildings, renovating them and leasing them out to migrants.[4] Establishing the Princes Group, Polites became one of the most visible property owners in South Australia by erecting blue and white "Polites" on most of the properties owned. In 1989, the Australian Financial Review estimated his minimum net worth to be $70 million.[5]

Profile

[edit]

Con Polites became a colourful personality within Adelaide, becoming known for his extravagant Cadillac and Rolls Royce cars, and usually seen smoking a cigar.[6] Polites was once known as the "king of Hindley Street".[7]

In 1966, Polites funded the expenses of Dutch psychic Gerard Croiset to travel to Adelaide and unsuccessfully assist in the search for the missing Beaumont Children. Later in 1996, he organised a search of a Somerton Park warehouse, including drilling holes, in an effort to determine if the children were buried there.[8]

Properties

[edit]

The following properties were known to be part of the Polites portfolio:

Adelaide

[edit]
  • 235 Grenfell Street (The Producers Hotel, formerly Old Exchange Hotel)[9]
  • 38 Currie Street
  • 66 Gawler Place
  • 38 Hindley Street
  • 58-60 Hindley Street (Black Bull, formerly Princes Berkeley Hotel)[10]
  • 61 Hindley Street
  • 84-86 Hindley Street (Kandy Shop Nightclub)
  • 90-100 Hindley Street (Woolshed on Hindley, formerly Victoria Hotel and Jules Bar)[10]
  • 102 Hindley Street
  • 103 Hindley Street
  • 254 Hindley Street [11]
  • 262 Hindley Street (Princes Arcade)[9]
  • 220 Hutt Street (Clarice Motel)[9]
  • 46 King William Street
  • 107 King William Street (Ambassadors Hotel) [12]
  • 118 King William Street (Polites House)
  • 1 Rundle Mall
  • 291 Rundle Street
  • 25 Victoria Street
  • 24-28 Waymouth Street

Glenelg

[edit]
  • 24-28 Jetty Road (The Colley Hotel, formerly Jetty Bar)

North Adelaide

[edit]
  • 73 Lefevre Terrace (Princes Lodge Motel)[9]
  • 33 O'Connell Street

Personal Life

[edit]

Con Polites married Florence Gemenis and had three children, Elen, Evon and George.

Events After Death

[edit]
  • In 2016, Con Polite's grave was excavated as part of an investigation into a mysterious package left at the gravesite of a dead cat wrapped inside a towel inside a pet carrier.[13] A package containing an animal liver, candle, and note with a red ribbon on top was also reportedly found at his son George's home.[14]
  • In 2024, a legal dispute over the Polites estate was publicised.[15][16][17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ubiquitous signs in the Adelaide CBD the legacy of Con Polites' prolific purchasing of cheap buildings from 1960s". Adelaide AZ. Adelaide AZ. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Con Polities". Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Ltd. The Australian Financial Review. 6 April 1990. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  3. ^ Etherington, Norman. "The Polites Heritage Empire". Issuu. National Trust of South Australia. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  4. ^ Borg, Rebecca (21 April 2023). "'Polites': The blue and white sign baffling tourists in Adelaide's CBD". No. 21 April 2023. Nationwide News Pty Ltd. news.com.au. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Under $100 Million - Con Polites". No. 12 May 1989. Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Ltd. The Australian Financial Review. 12 May 1989. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  6. ^ "Off The Record: The Polites family great car sale, and will SA get a second casino?". No. 21 May 2016. Nationwide News Pty Ltd. The Advertiser. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  7. ^ Starick, Paul (19 May 2016). "Disgruntled relative's cash feud behind macabre Polites cemetery attack". Nationwide News Pty Ltd. The Advertiser. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  8. ^ Rice, Steve (18 May 2016). "Family feud suspected in desecration of late Adelaide property tycoon Con Polites' grave". Nationwide News Pty Ltd. The Advertiser. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d Rice, Steve (18 May 2016). "Family feud suspected in desecration of late Adelaide property tycoon Con Polites' grave". Nationwide News Pty Ltd. The Advertiser. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference CashFeud was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "Polites family triumphs in $3 million, 20-year court battle". The Greek Herald. The Greek Herald. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  12. ^ Castello, Renato (21 November 2017). "Ambassadors Hotel on King William Street at centre of dispute between landlords Polites Group and liquidators". Nationwide News Pty Ltd. The Advertiser. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  13. ^ "Grave of Adelaide property tycoon Con Polites excavated over suspicious package". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  14. ^ "'Dead cat' found at grave of Adelaide property tycoon Con Polites". Nine Entertainment Co. 9NEWS. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  15. ^ "Family feud erupts over $1.5 million estate of late Adelaide matriarch Florence Polites". No. 11 December 2024. The Greek Herald. The Greek Herald. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  16. ^ Hough, Andrew (10 December 2024). "The grandson of Con and Florence Polites, Markas Salkanovic, is suing his grandmother's estate for more money". Nationwide News Pty Ltd. The Advertiser. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  17. ^ Hough, Andrew (28 December 2024). "New twist in Polites legal war as twin grandsons reveal new will claim over matriarch's multimillion-dollar estate". Nationwide News Pty Ltd. Sunday Mail. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
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