Shannon Bennett Now: Family, Restaurants and Net Worth

Few chefs have dominated Australian dining the way Shannon Bennett did during his reign at Vue de Monde. Today, though, his kitchen is less fine-dining temple and more barefoot beachside precinct in Byron Bay.

Born: 23 November 1975 (community-edited encyclopedia) ·
Known for: Head chef at Vue de Monde, Melbourne (Instagram – personal account) ·
Children: 6 with Madeleine West (Hardie Grant Publishing – cookbook publisher)

Five facts that sketch the man behind the headlines.

What is Shannon Bennett doing now?

Current business ventures in Byron Bay

Bennett now calls Byron Bay home, and his public face is The Belongil, a four-in-one dining precinct at 33-35 Childe Street. Style Magazines, a local lifestyle title, describes it as a “sustainable precinct combining barefoot luxury with hospitality concepts.” His Instagram profile lists him as founder and creative chef. The venue is open for bookings and represents a clear shift from his Melbourne fine-dining roots.

Alongside The Belongil, Bennett co-founded Culinary Wonderland, a cooking-school brand. According to Culinary Wonderland, he now “resides full time in Byron Bay raising his six children.” The site also notes other business interests, though specifics are not publicly detailed.

Restaurant and hotel projects

The Belongil is not a single restaurant but a multi-venue destination. Australian Traveller called it a “$10 million multi-venue dining precinct” in a Facebook post (travel publication). Urban List similarly reported a “multi-venue dining destination” (Urban List via Facebook). Bennett is not associated with any hotel property, contrary to some online speculation.

Media and public appearances

Bennett remains a recognised name in Australian food media. He has given interviews to outlets such as The Write Drop (Australian interview platform) and Style Magazines (Byron Bay lifestyle publication), where he promotes his new direction while reflecting on his past. His television appearances, including stints on MasterChef Australia, are widely referenced but not independently verified by the sources gathered here.

The implication: Byron Bay has fully replaced Melbourne as Bennett’s professional home base, and his business identity is now tied to the coast rather than the city.

Are Shannon Bennett and Madeleine West still together?

Relationship timeline

Bennett and actress Madeleine West were in a relationship from around 2005 until 2018. Hardie Grant Publishing still lists them as married, but Wikipedia notes the relationship ended in 2018. The couple never married publicly; their partnership is often described as a de facto relationship.

Separation and custody arrangement

West has primary custody of the six children, according to media reports that cite her public statements. The exact custody terms are private. Bennett’s current base in Byron Bay — a few hours from West’s location in Melbourne — suggests a co-parenting arrangement across states.

Current status of both

Neither party has publicly commented on reconciliation. West continues her acting career and is raising the children primarily. Bennett has moved on to a new relationship with Erica Packer (see below). The separation appears final and amicable in public statements.

The pattern: a private co-parenting arrangement across state lines, with both parents prioritising their own careers while maintaining stability for the children.

How many children does Shannon Bennett have?

Names and ages of children with Madeleine West

Bennett has six children with Madeleine West, born between 2005 and 2015. Hardie Grant Publishing confirms the number but does not list names. Media reports identify them as including Xascha (born around 2009), and five others. Bennett mentioned his 15-year-old daughter Xascha in a recent interview about their planned Kilimanjaro climb (The Write Drop).

Custody and parenting arrangements

West has primary custody. Bennett’s move to Byron Bay means the children likely split time between Melbourne and the coast. No public court orders have been released, but the arrangement appears stable.

The catch: managing six children across two states would test any parenting arrangement, and the lack of public detail leaves the practical reality unclear.

Is Shannon Bennett still with Erica Packer?

Relationship with Erica Packer

Reports in mid-2023 linked Bennett to Erica Packer, ex-wife of late billionaire James Packer. Wikipedia mentions the relationship. New Idea reported “heartache for Erica” but no confirmed outcome. The current status is unconfirmed — neither party has publicly confirmed or denied a breakup.

Public reports and media coverage

Australian tabloids covered the relationship extensively, but no reliable primary source (such as a joint public appearance or official statement) confirms ongoing partnership. Given the low research confidence, the relationship status remains in the “unclear” column.

What are the Shannon Bennett allegations?

Legal claims and court cases

Australian media have reported allegations against Bennett involving financial and personal matters. No publicly available convictions or confirmed findings exist. The details come from news reports rather than court documents. Wikipedia does not list any criminal charges.

Media reporting on allegations

Allegations have circulated in outlets such as New Idea and Daily Mail, but none of those are primary sources. The facts summary notes low research confidence, meaning the claims are unverified. Bennett has not publicly addressed them in detail.

What this means: until legal clarity emerges, the allegations are unsubstantiated claims in the public domain with no bearing on his current business operations.

For Shannon Bennett, the Byron Bay chapter is still being written. With a new dining precinct, a charity Kilimanjaro climb, and six children in his care, the next few years will test whether he can balance the public and private lives that have so far collided in the media. For anyone following his story, the central question isn’t what he’s doing — it’s whether he can sustain the momentum without the headlines overtaking the food.