Claremont is one of Perth‘s most prized enclaves – a mix of old money, manicured mansions, elite private schools and families who appear to lead charmed lives.
But behind the clipped hedges and wrought-iron gates of a Spanish-style estate on one of its most exclusive streets, there is a flurry of activity.
Tradies come and go, a three-car garage has become a makeshift carpentry workshop and a skip in the driveway overflows with debris from ongoing renovations.
The property belongs to Dr Clara Hurst, a Range Rover-driving socialite and former dentist whose success in the booming world of cosmetic injectables has earned her a prominent place in Perth’s elite circles.
She owns the luxury salon Blanc in nearby Cottesloe, and is a co-founder of the online prescription skincare company The Secret.
But beneath the polished façade lies a more troubling story.
David and Clara Hurst are pictured together in happier times
Dr Clara Hurst (pictured) is a Range Rover-driving socialite and former dentist whose success in the world of cosmetic injectables has earned her a prominent place in Perth’s elite circles
For months, Clara has been avoiding calls and emails from up to 132 patients of her late husband, the disgraced dentist Dr David Hurst – a man whose professional downfall left a trail of financial and emotional destruction.
On December 10 last year, Dr Hurst died suddenly at Crown Perth casino while Clara and their two children were holidaying in Bali.
While the exact circumstances of his death remain confidential, we can reveal it is not being treated as suspicious.
In the months that followed, the true scale of the damage he left behind began to surface.
Before his death, Dr Hurst had siphoned $7.1million from his dental practice, Perth Dental Rooms, leaving the business insolvent. According to the liquidator’s report, $4.1million was withdrawn over just 18 months, while the clinic generated profits of just $2.7million in the same period.
By the time administrators were called in, the company owed nearly $4.8million to creditors.
In the immediate aftermath of his death, Clara, still in shock and deep in mourning, stepped in as caretaker of the business.
It was then she uncovered a devastating truth her husband had hidden from her: Perth Dental Rooms had been trading insolvent since June 2023.
Amanda McQuillan (left) and Annette Young (right) are seen outside Clara Hurst’s $6.5million Claremont home. They are two patients of her late husband, the rogue dentist Dr David Hurst
Amanda (left) and Annette (right) both suffered severe dental pain after traumatic events that took place 30 years ago. Dr David Hurst had promised them hope – but failed to deliver
Dr Clara Hurst maintains the ongoing renovation of her Claremont property (seen here) is being solely funded by her own means. We do not suggest otherwise
‘I stepped in at a time of crisis to help his apparently thriving dental business to continue to operate, guided by professional advisors,’ Clara said in a statement issued via a crisis management PR firm.
‘Both these advisors and myself were surprised to eventually discover the business was insolvent.
‘As soon as this became apparent, the business was placed under the control of a registered insolvency professional,’ she added.
Company records reveal that patients had prepaid $2.36million for dental implants and other costly procedures – often under pressure.
Dr Hurst had a policy of upfront payment and encouraged his patients to access their superannuation to fund treatment. Per ATO rules, early release of super is permitted in limited circumstances including for dental care on compassionate grounds.
Many patients who paid tens of thousands of dollars received only partial treatment before Dr Hurst’s sudden death. They were the fortunate ones. Others were left with nothing – or worse, with work so poorly executed it would require corrective surgery.
While investigating this story, I spoke with several of Dr Hurst’s former patients. Their accounts of what occurred in his chair were disturbing.
With his company, Hurst Group Pty Ltd, now liquidated, those seeking to recoup their losses or repair the damage must lodge negligence claims against the late dentist’s professional indemnity insurance.
But the process is not straightforward. As executor of her husband’s estate, Clara is the one who must receive and process those claims.
It also emerged during the course of my investigation that Dr Hurst had arrived in Australia from the UK with a tarnished reputation more than a decade ago.
The dentist, from the Vale of Glamorgan in south-east Wales, had received a suspended jail sentence in 2012 after admitting 69 counts of theft totalling £15,584 (about AU$41,225 in today’s money) from Britain’s National Health Service.
He relocated permanently to Australia in 2013 where he seemingly had no problem re-registering as a dentist despite his criminal record in Britain.
On December 10 last year, Dr David Hurst died suddenly at Crown Perth casino while his wife Clara and their two children were in Bali. Clara became caretaker of his business, Perth Dental Rooms, only to discover it had been trading insolvent since June 2023
Amanda McQuillan, 56, from Greenwood in Perth’s north, paid Dr Hurst $60,000 from her superannuation for dental implants after surviving a domestic violence incident that left her with permanent nerve damage in her teeth.
‘I knew from the age of 24 that my teeth were all going to fall out. I brought up three children on my own. I couldn’t afford to get my teeth done [then] – they are all grown now.
‘I thought, “I’m 56, I’ve still got life in me. I’m going to take the money out and get my teeth fixed so I’m not reminded every morning of what happened to me 30 years ago.”‘
Amanda said Dr Hurst was charming and professional at her initial consultation. But at her second appointment, she began to feel uneasy.
‘During my second appointment when I had my scans he looked like he’d had a big night on the booze,’ she recalled.
‘He looked tired, he hadn’t shaved. That’s when alarm bells started ringing in my head. What would happen if he wasn’t around following my surgery?
‘He was stunned when I asked him and he reiterated that would not happen. His receptionist added he was covered by insurance if anything were to happen.’
Dr Hurst initially assured her the procedure would be completed before Christmas. But the date was pushed to February.
Then, in December, he died. Amanda never received a single treatment.
Annette Young prior to her botched dental work at the hands of Dr David Hurst
‘This is why I’m so mad. It’s taken away my dream and my chance to rid myself of trauma,’ she told me through tears.
Several former patients allege they were left with botched dental work that continues to require costly medical treatment.
Many were further outraged to discover that Clara had transferred $370,000 from her late husband’s estate into her mortgage account. Records show the Claremont property carries a staggering $54,000 monthly repayment.
Clara, however, insists the transaction occurred before she became aware of the full scale of her husband’s financial misconduct.
‘Transactions undertaken on the assumption the business was profitable (and with advice) prior to the discovery the business was insolvent have been reversed,’ she said in her statement.
Another dental practice confirmed Annette’s treatment had been mishandled and that Dr Hurst had used low-quality materials from overseas. (Pictured: a scan of her botched dental work)
‘It is incorrect to suggest impropriety and the public reports by the administrator back this up.’ We do not suggest otherwise.
Annette Young, 56, from Madora Bay, has lived with chronic pain for more than 30 years after a hit-and-run accident left most of her teeth destroyed.
Desperate for relief, she paid Dr Hurst $52,800 for a combination of implants and veneers. Instead, she now struggles to eat and lives with constant discomfort following what she describes as botched dental work.
‘He grinded my teeth down that much that I’ve had one [tooth] removed and one has died,’ Annette said.
‘I have also had to spend a further $3,000 on a root canal.
‘I’ve looked into getting them fixed in Bangkok, but that’s another huge expense and too far from home if any issues arise.’
Patients have been instructed to submit their insurance claims via a dedicated Gmail account managed by Clara. But according to Annette, she and several others she is in contact with have yet to receive any response.
She has since been forced to remortgage her home, freeing up $30,000 in a last-ditch effort to repair the damage done to her mouth.
Clara confirmed she had received numerous ‘potential’ claims related to her late husband’s dental practice.
‘I can confirm that I have diligently acted as the executor in informing all relevant parties of any potential claim against the estate of my late husband,’ she said.
‘I have great sympathy for the patients who have been left untreated after my husband’s passing, and I hope that the professionals in charge of winding up his business can continue to diligently work to recover value for them.’
In the immediate aftermath of Dr Hurst’s death, Clara engaged Aria Dental to treat several of his former patients who required urgent care.
Aria has not yet been paid for its work. It is now listed as a major creditor in the liquidation process, owed $465,858.
Despite the fallout, it remains business as usual at Clara Hurst’s high-end clinic and skincare brand. The only sign of upheaval is the recent deletion of her Instagram account
Annette said Aria confirmed her treatment had been mishandled and that Dr Hurst had used low-quality materials imported from overseas.
‘He placed two screws up top too close together and hid it with a bridge,’ she said.
‘Aria Dental removed the screws and re-placed them in the correct position.
‘It’s not even Australian compliant. So I’ve paid $52,800 and haven’t got a warranty for anything that’s in my mouth.’
Despite the fallout, it remains business as usual at Clara’s high-end clinic and skincare brand. The only visible sign of upheaval is the recent deactivation of her Instagram account.
She maintains the ongoing renovation of her Claremont property is being solely funded by her own means. We do not suggest otherwise.
‘I have not received a dollar from the estate of my late husband, and it appears the estate is currently insolvent,’ she said via her crisis communications representative.
During my trip to Perth, Clara made every effort to avoid speaking with me. When I called to request comment, she hung up – and later reported my message for ‘spam and abuse’ on WhatsApp, resulting in my account being locked.
Days later, she retained the services of a public relations firm. I understand she and her children are scheduled to travel to Europe in the coming weeks.
