Hobart developer Ali Sultan has died, his family has confirmed.
Key points:
- Ali Sultan was a prominent Hobart property developer and owner of Sultan Holdings
- He arrived in Australia from Lebanon in 1969, later opening a corner store in Claremont in Hobart and moving into fruit wholesaling, then property
- He has been remembered as a “kind man” who was willing to invest in Hobart when others would not
Mr Sultan migrated from Lebanon to Australia in 1969 and relocated to Hobart three years later with his Tasmanian wife.
He opened a corner store in Claremont and later moved to fruit wholesaling businesses, then carparks and accommodation developments.
His company, Sultan Holdings, claims to be the biggest private carpark owner-manager in Hobart.
Sultan Holdings also has significant interests in commercial, retail, tourism and residential property throughout Tasmania.
“We appreciate the thoughts and support of friends and of the wider Hobart community at this time and would appreciate privacy as we absorb the shock and sorrow of our family’s loss,” his family said in a statement.
Former Hobart lord mayor and current alderman Damon Thomas said Mr Sultan was a leader in the business community.
“He was a tall man, he had an air about him,” he said.
Alderman Thomas said Mr Sultan had been a champion for Hobart.
“When there was an air of despondency and negativity about Hobart, with the remains of the Myer fire and a gaping hole in the city, hundreds of jobs at risk, there were very few people prepared to put up and stand up for the future and to declare in a passionate way, his love for Hobart,” Alderman Thomas said.
“Ali stood above so many and said ‘I’m prepared to put money into Hobart’, when others simply were not prepared to risk any capital in this city.
“He was one of the very few who said Hobart has a future, where many others didn’t.”