Inside Andrew Forrest’s party of the century as billionaire flies a Who’s Who of Australia’s elite to a remote mine in the Pilbara – and wife Nicola breaks her long public silence after $32billion couple announced their separation

Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest threw a ‘surreal’ party for 700 members of Australia’s elite deep in Western Australia’s Pilbara Desert to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his mining company – when his estranged wife made her first public remarks since their shock split last month.

The billionaire chartered a fleet of Qantas jets to fly his well-to-do guests Saturday to Fortescue Metals Group’s Solomon mine in remote Washington, near the town of Tom Price, where they were treated to a performance by Jimmy Barnes and a “spectacular drone light show.

Twiggy entered the purpose-built outdoor arena on a huge dump truck, waving a massive corporate flag as AC/DC’s Thunderstruck blared into the warm desert sky.

“It was completely surreal, like a magical mystery tour,” one guest told Daily Mail Australia.

But the event was marked by one major omission: Twiggy’s wife and business partner Nicola Forrest did not attend, following the shock announcement of their divorce last month.

“She was conspicuously absent and that was definitely noticed by the guests,” said the source.

“But at first glance it was all very nice and amicable.”

However, Ms. Forrest, who is now Fortescue’s largest shareholder, made a brief appearance via a video message broadcast on giant outdoor screens.

Political operator Warren Mundine, who attended and wore a ‘No’ campaign T-shirt at the event, said it was ‘good’ to hear from Ms Forrest as he is ‘great friends with both of them’.

“Her (Nicola’s) video message was about the struggle to get Fortescue up and running in the early days and how successful it had been – and thanking all the people involved,” Mr Mundine told Daily Mail Australia.

“The whole thing was pretty spectacular and a brilliant party,” he added.

“It was good catching up with a bunch of people I haven’t seen in a while, and also catching up with Andrew.”

The children of Australia’s richest couple – Grace, Sophia, Matilda and Sydney – also recorded video messages.

Anthony Albanese and former Prime Ministers John Howard, Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull all sent their own messages, while guests also heard from former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson.

Gene Simmons, the co-frontman of KISS, even sent his regards.

Other celebrity personal guests included billionaires Jack Cowin and Alex Waislitz, Harris Farm Markets chairman Cath Harris, AFL and media identity Eddie McGuire, and Optus chief Kelly Bayer Rosmarin.

Less illustrious guests included Kwasi Kwarteng, Britain’s second-shortest ever Chancellor.

“There were also quite a few ‘Perthonalities’ – people who are considered big names in Perth but nobody else has heard of,” a source told Daily Mail Australia.

Jimmy Barnes made the crowd of big bankers and mining executives dance to his anthem Working Class Man.

He was kind of second fiddle. Coldplay were asked how much it would cost to headline the event.

The rockers told organizers they would travel alone for $10 million – a bridge too far even for Mr. Forrest.

The event’s MC was former Wallabies and Western Force star Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins, who dubbed his host the ‘Big Twig’.

In the more somber moments, Mr. Forrest told his guests that mining giants like him had a duty to lead the charge against the “deadly humidity” caused by climate change.

“It’s not the consumers… it’s a big industry like mine, we’re the ones that need to change, the way we produce our iron ore, the steel you need for your cars,” said Mr Forrest, according to the Australian financial Rjudgement.

The official event was followed by an after-party that continued into the wee hours for those unwilling to return to their ‘dongas’ – the mining huts where the guests spent the night.

Twiggy, who was dressed in a cream linen suit paired with a stylish tie, was reportedly awake until 2:30 am.

Fortescue Metals Group announced Monday, two days after the event, that the group’s CEO, Fiona Hick, had stepped down less than six months into the position, in an “amicable and mutual” decision.

Three quarters of the mine is said to be on land owned by the Yindjibarndi people, the traditional owners of the land.

The Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation is seeking $1 billion in royalties and compensation for Fortescue mining in the region.

Fortescue, which has separate agreements with the Wirlu-murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, is challenging the case.