Real Estate Franchise Severs Ties Following Investigation
Prominent Hunter property figure Anthony Di Nardo has been officially cut loose by real estate franchise Belle Property after numerous allegations of sexual harassment and indecent assault against female staff members emerged.
The dramatic termination came on Friday, November 29, 2025, when Sydney-based Belle Property head office director Peter Hanscomb sent an email to Hunter-based staff confirming the franchise contract for Mr Di Nardo's five offices had been terminated immediately.
This decision follows information that has recently come to light, raising serious concerns and posing a threat to the safety and security of former and current staff within the Hunter Region offices, Mr Hanscomb wrote in the email obtained by the Newcastle Herald.
Allegations Spanning Over a Decade
The termination follows a Newcastle Herald investigation published earlier in the week that revealed more than 10 past and present female employees had come forward with allegations against Mr Di Nardo spanning more than a decade.
Among the most serious claims involved a teenage staff member who was just 16 when she began a real estate traineeship at one of Mr Di Nardo's Belle franchises. The girl subsequently lodged a workers' compensation claim in August 2025, alleging grooming and harassment.
According to information seen by the Herald, it's alleged Mr Di Nardo asked the teenage girl about her sex life, how she pleasured herself, if she owned a vibrator, and told her he had dreams about her. More disturbingly, it's alleged he showed her pornographic videos on his phone, including security camera footage of staff members having sex and another video of himself involved in a threesome with an employee.
Five former female employees separately told the Herald that Mr Di Nardo had touched them sexually against their wishes. They described feeling powerless to reject his advances due to his significant influence over their careers in the Hunter real estate market.
Franchise Takes Swift Action
In his email to staff, Mr Hanscomb emphasized that the wellbeing of our people is our highest priority, and we have acted swiftly in response.
He expressed devastation at the behavior that led to the termination, stating it was fundamentally at odds with our values, has brought disrepute to the brand, and most importantly, failed to provide a safe and secure workplace.
The franchise has implemented a seven-day transition period to allow staff to manage open homes and auctions, during which Mr Hanscomb insisted that Mr Di Nardo not attend any properties or auctions.
Belle Property is now in negotiations to purchase the Hunter offices and is exploring opening a new Belle Property office in the region. Mr Hanscomb assured that positions would be available for all existing employees who wish to remain with the Belle Property brand.
Mr Di Nardo, who returned from Perth on Friday afternoon, has vehemently denied all allegations, describing them as concerning and simply untrue. He suggested that false and malicious complaints can sometimes arise when employment relationships break down.
The Herald is aware that numerous incidents have been reported to police, and when contacted for comment about the termination on Saturday morning, Mr Di Nardo called the requested timeline for response completely unreasonable, unfair and unethical, promising a formal response by 4pm Monday.
Mr Di Nardo had built a significant presence in the Hunter property market, opening his first Belle Property office in Lake Macquarie in 2018 after rebranding two McGrath franchises. This expanded to include offices in Port Stephens, East Maitland, Hunter Valley and Newcastle.
He was recognized as among the highest performers in the Belle network and was listed at 47 in REB's national top 100 agents this year. In late 2022, he set the record for the most expensive home sale in Lake Macquarie, a Speers Point property that sold for $10 million.
