Hot Properties

Investor and social entrepreneur Tanya Nelson-Carnegie has purchased in Wategos paying $14 million for 4 Palm Valley Drive. Liam Annesley from Byron Bay Real Estate was the agent and it settled in June.

Ms Carnegie was also the buyer of Hillstone Farm in Fowlers Lane Possum Creek for $11 mil last year. Her Sydney base is a $10.8 million Bondi Beach penthouse. Tanya is the ex-wife of colourful Sydney businessman Mark Carnegie. They have three daughters together.

Tara is the founder of a social venture fund, Vasudhara, and the Carnegie Foundation, where she helped create two charities, the Matilda Rose Early Intervention Centre and Hear For You. She has 20 years of experience in investment and started her career at McKinsey & Co. She holds a degree in Human Sciences from Oxford University and a post-graduate at Sydney and Macquarie universities.

The sellers were Nicholas Baxter and Johanna Gustaffson, who are now sailing the world on their newly acquired Fleming 65 yacht.

Celebrity chef and well-known anti-vaxxer, Pete Evans is working with developers on a large Rural Land Sharing Community development in Tweed Heads. The proposal has had a setback with Tweed Council. The Nightcap Village was seeking to create nearly 400 dwelling plots. The site is 1,500 hectares of rural land at 3220 Kyogle-Nimbin Road, near Mebbin at the foot of Wollumbin-Mt Warning.

The project would roll out over 12 stages and cost an estimated $39.8 million for stage one. Evans seems to be a spruiker for the project and is developing his own wellness retreat near Uki. The Nightcap Village website says he is in a “long-term commercial arrangement” with the project developers.

Many locals spoke out against the DA at the recent hearing. “(It) would require extensive land clearing of approximately 106 hectares of native vegetation with a further 220 hectares of impact in native populations,” a Department of Planning, Industry and Environment biodiversity and habitat management assessment found.

The Nightcap Village website promotes the community as a way of getting “back to the tribal wisdom of living in harmony with Mother Nature as well as the fundamental lore of Doing No Harm.”

This is billed as yet another ‘Unique” byron hinterland property. Set on 127.5 acres of land with 850sqm of internal living space, this hacienda-style home is fairly unique. It has 360 rural views and is close to the highway and beaches. The current owner, John Picone, has not spared time and energy to plant an extensive fruit orchard. It includes a studio and a commercial shed. Michael Coombs from Atlas REA is looking for $9.75 mil.

The HIA-CSR Australian Home of the Year award for 2021 was won by a home in Perth. It is a cascading, multi-level, dwelling that embraces the steep slope of the site.  Built by NSW builder Mallinger Constructions, the living wing hovers nine metres out over a sandstone cave. The open-plan kitchen flows onto a courtyard that contours around protruding boulders.

The judges were impressed by the building team’s engineering feats in overcoming a site fall of more than 17 metres, a plunge pool cut into the rock and the workmanship of an internal timber feature that conceals a hidden room. “Rather than removing obstructive site features, the home’s clever design instead binds its internal spaces to them,” the judges commented.

The property reminds me of the work of one of my favourite architects, Sri Lankan Geoffrey Bawa. His Kandalama Hotel is a classic in the use of building into a rocky slope.

And we are on the subject, here are all the winners of the 2021 Architecture Australia Awards. The winner was a pavilion house in Paddington, Brisbane.

This is one to watch and be interesting to see what the final price is. It was last sold 4.5 years ago for $1.35 mil. Gary Brazenor from Byron Shire Real Estate has just listed it for $8 mil. Yes, a bit of a mark-up and life-changing outcome if the vendors get it.

The property has some appeal to a certain class of buyers. 108 acres with exceptional views to the ocean, secluded but only a short hop to Brunswick Heads and Mullumbimby. It is the northeast slope of Mount Chincogan. It has been cleared a bit of camphor and lantana as was impossible when I last looked at it. Fully serviced shed offering potential accommodation whilst you build. Has a house pad at the top of the site. Access has a right of way through a neighbouring property.

Channel 9 TV series “The Block” is planning to do a series here in Byron. For those not up with this reality TV format, the show follows four or five couples as they compete against each other to renovate and style houses or apartments.  In the final episode, they sell them at auction and the highest price wins.

This reality TV show follows on from the recent kerfuffle around the Netflix series Byron Baes. This one was mainly shot in Ballina due to the local pressure against it. The Block, its 18th season, will start shooting in Sunrise Beach in April next year. Renovations will continue till September with an auction in October.

The link with Byron is not just that we now have the most expensive and topical property in the country. The show’s co-host, Shelley Croft, lives in Byron and her partner is local real estate agent Cristian Sergiacomi from Pacific Property.

Pete Evans is selling his ‘health lab’ business in Byron Bay at the Habitat. The commercial unit is being sold less than a year after opening for a “below replacement” price advertised at $295,000.

Pretty as a picture! This one sits on just under 6 acres. It’s a small-scale hobby farm inclusive of open paddocks with a cattle yard, spring-fed dam, small creek, extensive organic vegetable gardens and an architecturally designed family home. Great location just off Myocum Road between Byron and Mullumbimby. However, slight road noise with this one. 4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths and 3 bay parking on 2.33hs. Price Guide is $2,795,000 with Brett Connable from Ray White Byron Bay.

Robin Khuda, the founder of telecommunications service provider AirTrunk has purchased in Lennox Head.  The luxury property includes two residences. Each has a swimming pool surrounded by landscaped gardens and native bushland. It is 5.3 hectares with river frontage, boat ramp, fishing deck and development approval for seven eco-cabins.

Last year, the property was listed with a guide that started at $6.3 million and rose to $6.5 million but never sold. Nick Russo, of Ray White Byron Bay, launched it to the market again in March for $7.5 million. It settled to Bangladeshi born Mr Khuda’s Asia Digital Investments company last month and is one of a $100 million purchases by the company.

Local architect Sam Zaher was fortunate to get this exceptional house site to work with. He delivered a 4 bedroom 3 bathroom luxury home that sits on a level pad 1.1 km off Coolamon Scenic Drive on a 28 Ha property. It has panoramic views across Myocum to the ocean, Julian Rocks and the lighthouse.

The home is completely off-grid with a 15 Kw system and batteries. The circular pool uses a “naked freshwater system”, plus many other exceptional features. It is a First National Listing with Su Reynolds and Luke Elwin who are expecting offers over $14 mil. Expect more of these sites on the coastal side of Coolamon Scenic Drive to be rebuilt or renovated. Like Wategos Beach, this will be another address soon to be transformed by some of the big money coming to town.

The old Woolworths site, 98-106 Jonson Street, has been sold in conjunction with the adjacent Mercato Shopping Centre, at 108-116 Jonson Street. Melbourne based finance company Wingate and developer Azzura were the vendors and the rumoured price is around $120 million. This would make it by far the biggest real estate deal ever done in the booming Bay.

Sydney pub baron Justin Hemmes was rumoured to be the purchaser of this prime double site. This is not correct. It was actually purchased by the Mustaca and Pelligra Families in conjunction with a couple of fund managers. The vacant portion of the site currently holds a flexible B2 local centre zoning, which allows for mixed-use ­development such as retail, residential and accommodation.

Justin Hemmes is the son of celebrity Sydney couple, Jon and Merivale Hemmes. Originally into fashion with a clothes label and retail outlets; “Jon and The House of Merivale”. The family branched out into licenced hotels and restaurants and now Justin is a billionaire and owner of over 80 pubs and venues. He is a frequent visitor to Byron Bay and although being a bidder on the above sites was not the winner. He is the buyer of the Cheeky Monkey site where he may have plans for an upmarket Italian restaurant. He was also bidding for the Bangalow Hotel but owner Tom Mooney and wife Catherine declined to sell, even though the offer was rumoured to be $50 mil.

This rural property in Tweed Shire has a unique and interesting marketing angle. It is rumoured that, as a guest in 1983, David Bowie spent time there in the music shed and finished writing the lyrics to his hit song China Girl.

Janis Perkins from Real Estate of Distinction is the listing agent for 2407 Numimbah Road, Numimbah Valley – just nudging the Queensland border. “Wagawn…  is an exceptional property and much more than a 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom house. It is an outstanding 619 square metre grand, master-built home, originally built in 1883 and set on 13 beautiful acres with outstanding views. The old-world charm now combines its genteel past with all the contemporary comforts, a saltwater swimming pool, purpose-built stables for 4 horses with a tack room, plus parking for 7 vehicles”.

Apparently, the previous owner painted over the China Girl lyrics that were written on the walls. This reminds me of the classic story of the Brett Whitely nude that was painted on the toilet block brick wall at Wategoes Beach. The sweeping lines of girlfriend Janis Spencer were appreciated for a while before being lost to the cleanup campaign by an anti-graffiti council worker.

This interesting story published in the SMH Domain section comes with an even better back story. 34 Childe Street Belongil Beach has been for sale privately and off-market for some time. The asking price has always been over $10 mil. The owners were Peter and Jodie James, founders of the Mortgage Ezy finance Group. The property included two houses on two titles. The front one with absolute Beach frontage was renovated by architect Jodie with special inclusions to make it a “healthy home” and completely EMF free.

The attached story includes a claim by Parkinson’s REA principal Frank Mlikota that he sold the property site-unseen, half undressed and half intoxicated to a Melbourne buyer. That is not so unusual as quite a few properties have sold recently without a physical inspection. Such is the state of the market. It’s also in keeping with Mr Mlikota’s “Barefoot” branding. The main surprise is Mr Mlikota claim that he had also had never set foot on the property as well.

It seems that the listing agent, who is no longer with the agency, has some questions about that. There may also be a small problem with the disputed payment of a chunky commission. Frank Mlikota claims to be the seller of the “Matt Damon” house in Broken Head as well. This is confusing as I believe he means he sold the house that Matt Damon holidayed in with his family – not a house he sold to Matt Damon.

Frank is being a bit disingenuous with this one. The idea that he sold a $12.5 mil property he had never inspected, was half drunk and half-dressed when he did it is a marker of his skills as an agent is a bit of a stretch.

Rock musician Andrew Stockdale has spent $2.7million on an investment property in Bangalow. The Wolfmother frontman, 44, bought retail premises after it was offered through Kath Vaubell at Byron Bay Property Sales after getting approval for the addition of restaurant space and two shop top living quarters. The site is home to one of Sparrow’s coffee outlets, managed by the Harvest crew, headed by Tristan Grier.

It last sold in 2018 at $2.3 million, and in 2015 at $1.45 million, when it had a gross total return of $113,886. The purchase includes six retail and commercial tenancies and is not Andrew’s only investment in the area. He also owns a $1.6million cottage in Byron, which he renovated and listed as a rental in 2019.

Wolfmother is headlining Byron Music Festival on June 19.

2 Murwillumbah Road, Mullumbimby was built in 1930 and started life as “Riverview”.  The build cost was 1100 pounds which was a notable sum in those days. It was last sold in 2015 for $1,390,000. It is on a hectare of land on two titles. You can see the yellow frontage on the left after crossing the first bridge when leaving town to the northwest and before Murwillumbah Road becomes Coolamon Scenic Drive or Main Arm Road.

The previous owner was Diane Stokes, ex-wife of media mogul Kerry Stokes. Before that, it housed the James family, dairy farmers who owned grazing land in Myocum, Tyagerah,  The Pocket and Brunswick Vallery. Both Ernest James and his son Bill served as Mayors of Municipality of Mullumbimby.  Ernest James and a local NSW bank manager were convicted of fraud in the 1940s.

The name of the house changed to Magnolia House but was often referred to as the Yellow House because of the colour. The home is now being listed by Gary Brazenor of Byron Shire Real Estate. It is listed for $3,500,000 and inspections are by appointment only.

Zac Ephron may not still be enamoured with his local girlfriend he met in town but is still more than keen on the Byron hinterland. He has purchased nearly 130 hectares in Tweed Shire. The private retreat offers rainforest, creeks, waterfalls and bushwalking trails. Public title records now show the block has settled in the name of Zachary Efron and changed hands for $2 million. Selling agent Brad Franks of Ray White Murwillumbah would not be drawn when contacted, citing a non-disclosure agreement.

With the recent death of liberal politician Andrew Peacock, I was reminded of a little love shack down at Broken Head. Mr Peacock lost the Liberal leadership to John Howard who lost the election to Bob Hawke. Lucky, as any ornithologist would know, a Hawke will always beat a Peacock in a fight.

After leaving politics he became ambassador to the USA and had a relationship with Shirley McLaine. Around this time, in the early 80s, Ms McLaine purchased a very unique property on 7 Mile Beach Road, Broken Head. The house was very run down but sat on a ridgeline over Brays Beach with coastal views to north and south. She decided to not hold it for long after realising the limited potential for rebuilding due to the national park restrictions.  We were close to having another celebrity couple here, even before Hoges and Linda, Strop and Delvene.

Large rural properties are getting harder to get close to Bangalow. This one at 18 Pioneers Crescent is 100 acres and has an impressive home perched on an eastern facing ridge. It can be seen on the left while heading north past Bangalow on the highway.

The old railway line and Byron Creek passes through the property. There is a commercial macadamia orchid of 3,500 trees, 300 finger lime trees that can be developed into a commercial enterprise as well. The property also has a large dam and spring-fed creek.

It is being marketed by Ed Silk with expectations in the mid-teens – $14 – 16 mil.

This family home is only three bedroom one bathroom and only on half an acre of land. But on the plus side has excellent north aspect and good rural views. It has a double carport, water tanks, double septic connection tank, Solar Panels with new battery system, solar hot water with electric booster

Offered by Damien Smith from Ray White Byron Bay. The range is around mid ones.

There is currently a big appetite for homes with renovation potential in a good location. 46 Carney Place, Knockrow ticks those boxes but needs quite a bit of work. It is a large 2 story traditional brick home but the site is nearly 4 hectares of land with spectacular coastal views.

It has 4 bedrooms with unique timber floors and ceilings, a built-in bar, a games room, and cellar. The separate shed area has enough space for 3 cars which is an addition to the 2 car garage. Braden Walters from Belle Property is aiming for high 3s for this property, which I think is a bit steep but anything is possible in this market. .

Resident and lovers of Federal will be interested in this new Light Industry DA. The Fed Sheds is envisaged to be artisanal, creative workspaces for local small businesses.  467 Federal Drive, Federal is on 4000 M2 and is just up the road from the existing shops and village hub.  The complex is now canvassing suitable tenants. Already enquired have been an art gallery, film production, cafe, bike shop, professional offices. You can view the plans in the link below.

The Sun Hotel is now for sale with price expectations of more than $10 million. The Sun, on Bayshore Drive in the Industrial Estate,  sits on a 7600-square-metre parcel of land zoned mixed-use, offering rare development potential. It is in an expression of interest process that closes at the end of March.

“I hate saying it but Byron Bay is incredibly hot property,” said CBRE Hotels national director Wayne Bunz. It is being offloaded by KTQ Group, the owners and operators of the upmarket Elements of Byron resort.

It follows a string of seven-figure sales over the past 18 months — including the Byron Bay Holiday Village Backpackers, The Bower Byron Bay, Byron at Byron, The Farm Byron Bay and the Byron Beach Hotel. For those who missed the saga of the Beach Hotel, you can read it here.

Ocean Shores has clocked up another $2 million dollar sale.  The 3 bedrooms 2 Bathroom architect-designed home has a saltwater pool and an Ocean View. 3 Golara Court was sold for $2,140,000 By Ku Darroch from Byron Property Sales.

Anti-vaxxer-in-Chief Pete Evans has purchased the Mout Warning Forest Hideaway. Evan’s company Healthy Everyday Pty Ltd has spent $1 million on a Byrrill Creek property, which about 66km northwest of Byron Bay.  The ex-celebrity chef currently runs a healing clinic at Habitat in Byron.

The recent accommodation acquisition is not far from the Pottsville retreat that Evans and wife Nicola Robinson have called home since moving from Sydney’s Malabar after their house sold for $3.36 million last September.

His whisper-quiet 8ha property acquisition comes with a three-bedroom home plus tourism venture, with eight self-contained studio apartments. There’s a saltwater pool, which comes with a small macadamia plantation, along with crops of bush lemon and guava. The sales agent was Janis Perkins from Real Estate of Distinction.

Fitness queen Lorna Jane Clarkson has paid $14 million for Coorabella. The 23 Ha property in Coorabell was last sold in July 2018 by jewellery designer Giovanni D’Ercole for $6.2 mil.

Now a Wategos resident, Gio hosted a charming hang out for locals and visitors.  Margot Robbie wed her long-term partner Tom Ackerley in a top-secret ceremony at the private retreat in 2016. Star actor Gabriel Macht, who plays Harvey Spectre, (Buddies of Prince Harry and Meghan) and his Aussie actress wife Jacinda Barrett hang out there.

The founder of the popular activewear label, Lorna Jane, also owns a $10 mil mansion in Hamilton, Brisbane. The previous owner spent serious money on the property adding a substantial shed for a car collection. The sales agent was Helen Huntley Barrett from First National.

The Byron Health Hub is now advertising for medically related business to take up leases in a new development. The site is on the eastern side of McGettigans Lane, Ewingsdale. This medical and health precinct will now include the new Byron Hospital, and then the planned Ingenia Aged Care facility, then the Byron Health Hub. Leasing is being managed by David Gordon from Ray White REA.

Byron Bay Backpackers at 116 – 118 Jonson St Byron Bay has sold. The 4,287 sqm site has been family held for 37 years and was sold with no development approvals intact. It achieved a price of $18.55 mil with John Musca and Elliott O’Shea from JLL as the listing agent.

The next-door Mercato complex is already completed. It holds the new revamped Woolworths and the Palace Cinema. Next-door to that, the old Woolworths site to the north is under an EOI process and with plans for a hotel, and retail complex.

The next one is 90-96 Jonson Street. This site currently includes The Cellar Liquor Store, O’shushi, and other retail outlets. The 5,390 M2 block sold last March 2020 and settles on March 2021. The price is not yet public but apparently a lot more than the Backpacker sale as it had DA approvals and advantageous B2 zoning in place.

Another Wategos Beach property has sold for more than $16 million in an off-market sale. The Marine Parade property comes after the well-publicised sale next door at 35 Marine Parade. This was a North Coast high of $22 million to Rip Curl founder Brian Singer. The seller was Melbourne based businessman Rick Townsend who purchased it for $900,000 in 1994.

The buyers are Emma Gibson, head of Aquamamma pregnancy hydration solution, and her husband Robert Bates. Bates co-founded 7 Trinity Biotech.  The company has a suite of health and technology startups.

The agent was Liam Annesley, who has left LJ Hooker Byron Bay and started his own brand,  Byron Bay Real Estate Agency. He also sold WhaleWatchers at the eastern end of Marine Parade. It sold in the last days of 2019 for $12 million to Brett Whiteley art dealer Steve Nasteski. This was well down on the hoped-for $18.5 mil that it was originally listed for.

• A recent sale by Jeremy Bennett from Byron Property Sales just happened last month at 49 Brownell Drive for $7.5 mil. The buyer was former Mitre 10 boss Mark Laidlaw and his wife Sarah.
• There is currently only one listing in Wategos as we go to print. 45 Brownell Drive is a co-listing with Helene Adams at Atlas and Liam Annesley with Byron Bay real estate. The 3 bed 1 bath 3 story house is a bit dated on the outside but has had a recent interior reno. The asking price is $8 – 8.5 mil.

This cute and interesting old workers cottage in Bangalow had a stellar performance at the auction on Feb 21. Admittedly, it was slightly underquoted in the marketing at $775,000. Spirited bidding by at least two keen buyers saw it reach a final $1,141,500. That is just over two-thirds increase in it is original price expectations. Listing agent Michael Dodds from Elders Bangalow said it was one of the longest auctions he’d ever experienced with the bidding opening at $900K and going up in $500 increments.  There were 13 registered bidders and 88 inspection parties over the three-week campaign,

Anyone who was in doubt about where the Byron property market was heading should read this. 12 Bay Street, next door to the Byron Beach Hotel and across the road from the Byron Surf Lifesaving Club,  is now in play. The developer Adam Hammond of Cavvanbah Projects, optioned the site last August for $30 million and expects to lodge the DA this month. Melbourne architect John Bornas from Workroom Design came up with the design concept and this is his fifth Byron project.

The team will be listing the property off the plan with Beauchamp Estates for 35 million pounds – that is around $61.3 million Australian dollars at the current exchange rate. ‘The Beach House’ is on a quarter acre block and looks onto Mian Beach. The Byron Beach Hotel next door recently sold for $100 million-plus.

The Design

The design concept features a main residence spanning 700 sqm of internal space,  landscaped outdoor heated pool area, Japanese hot-tub, Finnish sauna, yoga pavilion, instant gas hot water outdoor showers and an outdoor kitchen and dining area with unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean.

A second self-contained residence of 300 sqm with switchable private elevator access would allow the owner to accommodate visiting friends and relatives, holiday let or combine to form a total main residence of 1000 sqm.

Billionaires Wanted

Mr Hammond says, “Where else can a Hollywood A-lister walk from the surf straight into a restaurant or bar without shoes on and not be bothered for an autograph?” the advertisement reads.

Mr Hammond said the property was likely to attract more international interest, given its scale and price tag. “The sort of person who can spend just over $60 million Australian on a house, which realistically will be a holiday house, will likely have a net worth of at least half a billion dollars,” Mr Hammond said.

“The profile of this sort of person – they may be Australian – but likely not, as billionaires are fairly thin on the ground here. “These people prize exclusivity, bespoke builds and discretion over anything else. “For somebody in that league, this isn’t going to be their only address.”

The site is currently zoned mixed-use and could feature a combination of retail, commercial, and residential space. Apparently, there is already interest in leasing the ground floor restaurants spaces.

Some of this text in this article came from the Courier Mail and The Northern Star. More on this story is in the Market Watch link below.

A previous BPS newsletter mentioned how a number of old houses on the eastern end of Brownell Drive, Wategos Beach were about to be pulled down to make way for multi-millionaire beach shacks. The plans for one of them has already hit the courts and some locals have not been so chilled out and going with the flow.

Scott Andrew Didier runs a company with the questionable name of Trump Investments. He bought the first house on the eastern end of Brownell Drive for around $5 mil and then submitted a DA to the council. That was the start of the most easterly shit fight.  The small enclave of only 84 lots has witnessed squabbling millionaires before, and will again, now that many some of the better homes are being priced at $20 mil plus.

The view is the money shot. Wategos is one of the few north-facing beaches on Australia’s east coast and a restricted view will seriously deduct value. The neighbours won on this one and Mr Didier was trumped and forced to take off a whole floor of the mega-mansion.

Council documents showed the property would have been three-storeys high with a four-vehicle stacked garage that included a lift. It also included a sauna, pool, powder room and several balconies. Mr Didier also owns the Beach Suites in Bay Lane, Byron which he purchased in 2018.

The Hemsworth’s have sold their Alcorn St., Suffolk Park property. This was their home the while the couple built their $20 mil home at Seven Mile Beach. CoreLogic records show the property had been bought in July 2018 for $4.3m and sat in the name of Byron Bay 1st Property Management, with the previous sale price in February 2009 sitting at $2.75m.

A $4.9m transaction was recorded under the Hemsworth name on December 9 for a beachfront property in Suffolk Park, in the Byron Bay region, which was said to be where his family lived while their $20m mega-mansion at Broken Head was being built. This is the latest, but probably not the last, real estate transaction to have the surname of one of Australia’s most famous brothers on the deal.

The two-bedroom unit in the Fortyfive complex in Lawson Street, Byron Bay achieved $3.75 mil. I think this sale last month is a new unit record. The property has been listed for some time by Byron Property Sales and was the last holding by the original developer.  It enjoys a north facing aspect providing expansive views over Main Beach and down to ‘The Pass’.

One of Byron hinterland’s premium property currently on the market – but soon to be sold. it is perched on the Coolamon ridge with perfect north 210-degree views from the mountains to Cape Byron. It sits on 55 acres that include natural bush and tropical rainforest. The house is master-built with a pavilion-style floor plan spreads across three buildings offering three large bedrooms all with their own en-suites. It also includes horizon pool, media room and billiard room. As we send this out the property is under negotiation for between $15- 18 mil with Graham Dunn Real Estate.

Head of the Nick Scali furniture empire now has somewhere to put his couch in the Byron Hinterland. Anthony Scali has paid $4.2 million for 53.4 hectare property in Wilsons Creek.

The house in Koonyam Range Road had been marketed earlier this year as a unique hinterland estate with Byron Shire’s best views. The three bedroom home has 270 degree panoramic views from the rim of the escarpment overlooking Mullumbimby and the bay.

It includes around 8,000 sqm of landscaped surrounds which include a 12 metre pool.

The pavilion-style home would not be to everyone’s taste as it is built from Oregon and blue stone and has the feel of a Swiss chalet.

Another couple of returning ex-pats have washed up on the shores of Byron. Australian photographer Polly Borland and her husband, filmmaker and highly awarded commercial director John Hilcoat, have bought in Suffolk Park.

The couple emerged as the $2.1 million buyers of the quirky, modernist-inspired home in Suffolk Park that appeared on Grand Designs Australia last year. This home (pictured) was featured in a previous Hot Property edition.

The home was built by Mike and Megan Fishwick. Mike, a clothing designer, and Megan, founder of Feel Good Revolution took their inspiration from the internationally ­acclaimed 1951 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed Illinois weekender for Dr Edith Farnsworth. They paid $645,000 for the 800 sqm block of land in 2017 in the Seacliffs rainforest ­estate developed by Jonathan Levy’s Unison Projects.

The couple lived in a caravan with their three children for almost a year while undertaking the project. The Foxtel LifeStyle channel presenter Peter Mad­dison suggested it was “a uniquely Aussie version of a modernist building”.

New owners, Borland and Hilcoat, resided in England until around 2011 and are returning from Malibu, California. Borland is a highly awarded photographer. Hilcoat, who directed the hit prohibition-era crime film “Lawless” starring Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf, has joined the creative collective agency Collider. He’s collected every major advertising award over his long career, shooting commercials for the likes of Nike, Apple, Samsung and Coca-Cola.

Lilli Pilli Drive is a small enclave south of Byron that is often overlooked by buyers and the market. With the rapidly rising market, this usually sedate and humble suburb is also seeing strong growth. There are presently two listings there that are in the mid twos.

43 Lilli Pilli Drive is listed as an EOI with McGrath and expecting mid twos. 69 Lilli Pilli is an unusual property with interesting architecture. It was built with an inner-city terrace in mind. The proportions are a lot more gracious than a normal terrace which would help excuse the sale price of $2.85 mil. IT was marketed by Tara and Denzil from First National.

The mystery purchaser of the $22 mil Wategos Beach property on Marine Parade is still managing to remain anonymous. Much gossip has been circulating on who the buyer was but the Sydney agent has being staying mum.

Not such a mystery anymore on the other big purchase of last month. Philanthropist and investor Tanya Carnegie paid $11 mil for Hillstone Farm, Fowlers Lane, Bangalow. Tanya founded Vasudhara, a social impact firm and charity as well as the Carnegie Foundation.

Tanya is an investor, social entrepreneur and the founder of Vasudhara. She started her career at McKinsey & Co., holds a degree in Human Sciences from Oxford University, and was a post-graduate at Sydney and Macquarie universities.

This beachside site of 4,100msq has 9 freestanding 2/3 bedroom units with a total of 21 bedrooms. Residential and commercial zoning provides the opportunity to redevelop. This unique property is offered by David Gordon and Will van den Dungen via EOI which closes on 11^th December at 5pm. If it lasts that long…

This hoarder’s home in Concord, Sydney changed hands for more than $3.41 million at auction during the month. The house looked un-inhabitable: bags of garbage were piled in the front rooms and the yard was strewn with car batteries, loose pipes and other junk. Cleaners had come in weeks before the auction to clear up much of the mess but inside there were still stacks of outdated TVs, boxes, filing cabinets buried under cobwebs and a pile of loose doors. The eventual buyer did not even look inside as will pull down the house and build a new family home on the 1018 M2 site.

A NEW tourist accommodation development in the Byron hinterland has been given the green light. The 42-hectare property at 533 Bangalow Rd in Talofa has been approved as a new accommodation retreat.  The DA was lodged with Byron Shire Council in February. You may know the property as the home to an existing palm tree farm.  Talofa Palms Pty Ltd applied for six tourist accommodation cabins, each with two bedrooms, a kitchenette and a plunge pool for each cabin. Councilor Basil Cameron had concerns about the on-site parking and the plunge pools use of water.

45 Lawson St, Byron Bay

This 2 bed, 2.5 bath, beachfront apartment is north-facing with expansive beach views. Double garage, lift access, fireplace, air-con, and underfloor heating. For a cool $3.75M, this is Byron’s most expensive apartment. Contact Vicky Innes of Byron Bay Property Sales to inspect.

6 Wollongbar St, Byron Arts and Industrial Estate

Promoted as a luxury ‘man cave’ in the Byron Arts and Industrial Estate, this industrial unit has sold for $748,000. It is understood this was a record price for an industrial unit within the local region. The identity of the buyer has not been disclosed. Developer Zac Potter of the Potter Group said the sale price highlighted the draw of up-market “man cave” or “she shed” properties.

139 Jonson St, Byron Bay

This new development on the corner of Jonson of Browning St. Byron was discussed in last months newsletter. These new units were snapped up in a matter of weeks and never really made it to the open market. Two-bedroom units were being sold around $1.1 mil.

Rumour Mill

Rumour #1) The gossip persists that it was Matt Damon who purchased the $22 mil Wategos Beach property last month. The listing agent is not divulging the buyer but insists it is not the Holiday A-lister.  Damon has made multiple visits here with family and enjoys to hang out with his mate, Chris Hemsworth.

2) Circulating in the shire ATM is a rumour that Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr, married to Snapchat billionaire husband Evan Spiegel, has purchased in Byron Bay. There is no verification of this rumour but if it does come to light we will let you know.  The former Victoria’s Secret model, 35, is expecting her second child with Spiegel. Kerr already has an eight-year-old son Flynn from her previous marriage with Hollywood A-lister Orlando Bloom

Verified sales

Pandora Jewellery founder Karin Adcock has bought in Suffolk Park. Adcock, who sold the Pandora company for about $100 million in 2012, has quietly paid $1,325,000 for a renovated 1990s home. (link for more below)

Former model, now DJ, Kate Elsworth and hubby Nicolas Blistene spent a tidy $1.25 M on a townhouse on the fringe of Byron. Elsworth has headlined huge dance parties in Ibiza. The couple spent $1.25 million on a townhouse in the Seagrove complex.

The ‘thinnest house’ in London has gone on the market in Shepherd’s Bush for £950,000.  Just six feet wide in some parts, it is situated between two shops on Goldhawk Road and has 1,034 sq ft of internal modern space. Originally a hat shop, the property was converted into a five-storey property by fashion photographer Jurgen Teller — and it could now be yours. On the lower ground floor, there is a dining room with double-height glazed doors which lead to a leafy patio, plus a small kitchen with a dark green AGA and shaker-style cabinets. It has been inspired by a luxury yacht to make the most of its small space, so expect functional and practical nooks throughout.

New Byron Bay Record

Its a sign of the times. 35 Marine Parade Wategos Beach was only listed for a few days and has set a new residential record. The five-bedroom, three-bathroom home has achieved close to the $22 mil asking price. This easily beats the last Byron Bay record, also on Marine Parade, of $18.85 mil. The property was listed by the recruitment industry veteran Geoff Morgan, co-founder of Morgan & Banks, and his wife Roslyn.

Michael Coombs was the agent who is based in Neutral Bay with LJ Hooker Lower North Shore Sydney. Rumour has it that the property was sold to Hollywood actor Zac Efron. Apparently, there were a number of A-list celebrities looking at it but the agents are not able to make the buyer’s identity public.

Other Watego Moves

Match Media founder John Preston and his wife Dee have paid $7 million for a two-story house on Brownell Drive. The house next door has been quietly picked up off-market for $5.25 million by Daniel Foggo, chief of non-bank lender Plenti.

Troy Daniel, the founder of boutique Hong Kong creative agency Bespoke Company, has bought on the same street for $5.25 million.

Wategos Beach is now firmly entrenched as a premium property hot spot, attracting the sort of money usually seen in Sydney’s high-end suburbs.

14 Palm Valley Drive, Wategos

This is a new listing with Jeremy Bennett at Byron Property Sales. The three-bedroom home on three levels faces east and has an interrupted ocean view. Looking for $4.9 – $5.25 mil.

Goonengerry Road, Goonengerry

Australian actor based in LA, Jacob Elordi, has purchased a property Down Under. The 23-year-old Netflix star splurged just over $2million on this hinterland acreage in June, according to realestate.com.au. Surrounded by rainforest and sweeping ocean views with two Hamptons-style dwellings, the 5.7 acre property offers an oasis of peace and privacy.

Hemsworth Bros sell in LA

The genetically-blessed Hemsworth brothers – Chris, Luke and Liam – have listed their family LA crash pad for $6.7 million. Variety reports that the trio splashed $US3.45 million ($4.72 million) on the secluded contemporary home in Malibu, California in early 2016 after Chris, one of the highest-paid actors on the planet, and his Spanish model and actor wife Elsa Pataky decided to move their family from Los Angeles back to Byron. The Hemsworth brothers used the LA bolthole as a place where they could stop for industry events and professional engagements. But with younger brother Liam also with plans to build a home in Byron Bay, the three brothers have now decided to sell their joint venture – and look to make a tidy profit in the process.

Sign of the Times #2: this excellent property just outside of Bangalow took 11 days to sell for $11 mil. Hillstone Farm is 60 acres which features two houses and a studio. The 7 bedrooms 6 bathroom property has magnificent 270-degree views over Byron Bay and the ocean.

I took a client to this property last time it was sold in 2016. At the time it was listed for around $2.5 mil. The new owners have added the second house and done lots to the landscaping. But that is still a good mark up in four years. Jeremy Bennett, From Byron Property Sales, was the agent and fresh from his success in selling Villa Gabrielle on Lighthouse Road Byron for $9 mil.

This mid-century modernist-inspired Suffolk Park home has been sold by vendors Mike and Megan Fishwick. The unusual build was featured last year on Grand Designs Australia. Mike Fishwick is a clothing designer for a local street/surfwear label, and Megan is the founder of Feel Good Revolution.

They took their inspiration from the internationally ­acclaimed 1951 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed Illinois weekender for Dr Edith Farnsworth. The 800 sqm building block was sold in 2017 for $645,000 in the Seacliffs rainforest ­estate developed by Jonathan Levy’s Unison Projects. First National Byron Bay agent Tara Torkkola achieved a $2.1 million sale, just under the $2.2 million price guidance.

The couple lived in a caravan with their three children for almost a year while undertaking the project. The Foxtel LifeStyle channel presenter Peter Mad­dison suggested it was “a uniquely Aussie version of a modernist building”.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom house features an outdoor pool, entertainment deck, and a large carport. The kitchen, covered in handcrafted kitchen tiles, includes a cafe-style rangehood and spacious dining with a bespoke dining nook.

BYRON mayor Simon Richardson has used his casting vote to allow a proposed rezoning of coastal land to proceed to the state planning department for Gateway determination. The proposal for land at the northern end of Bayshore Drive, once home to a golf course and owned by Ganra Pty Ltd, went before Byron Shire Council’s planning meeting during the month.

It seeks approval for an Environmental Living (E4) zone to allow for nine residential lots and other environmental zonings to cover the 41-hectare site. It would mark the first application of an E4 zone in the Byron Shire. Jeremy Holmes, the development director for North Byron Beach Resort, asked councillors for their support.

Mayor Richardson said that he wishes there other things that could happen at this site. However, existing planning regulations make it most probable the development would pass through the Land and Environment Court. It is wise for the council not to waste ratepayers money fighting it.

The Golden Grid in Byron keeps on keeping on. The blocks between Marvel, Massinger,  Tennyson, and Ruskin contain more than just poets names. This classic old Qlder has had a magnificent and costly renovation prior to its last sale in 2016 for $3.025 mil.  The back half of the block was subdivided and built on. Now the remaining house on 632 M2 has been sold for $3.6 mil by Christian Sergiiacomi and Brad Cranfield from Pacifico Property.

This is a cute workers cottage in the sought after eastern side of Mullum. The four bedrooms include one out in the back lane, which could easily be self-contained. Still needs a bit of work to bring out the extra character but has lots of potential. Listed with Heidi Last at McGrath and will go to auction on the 7th of November.

Have a look at the character – and price. Best to go a bit further out to pick up bargains these days. This 3 bedroom 2 bathroom Queenslander faces the river and sits on 1488 M2 of land. I am sure flooding an issue here though which will explain the price. But looks like it has plenty of height to stay above the worst of it. $585,000 from Elders Tweed Valley.

Valuation firm HTW has done some research on what $700,000 will buy in two separate locations. Clarence Valley, Lismore, Kyogle and Casino are not in the overheated region of Northern Rivers. These areas are still seeing more market interest than usual as they are also experiencing COVID refugees. This is also a prime investor market. Many people are not comfortable in the stock market and very little interest is happening with the banks or managed funds.

This property on 9 acres in Myocum has many attributes. It is very private and has excellent ocean views to the east. Surrounded by tall gums and natural bush it is secluded and no traffic noise. The house itself is less than 20 years old but has just had a well-done refurbishment. Four bedrooms three bathrooms and a four-car garage/shed. Damian Smith from Ray White Byron Bay is looking for around $2,65 mil.

“Spa King” Eddie Phillips has finally sold his luxury property overlooking The Pass in Byron. Villa Gabrielle is a three-bedroom home on three levels with expansive views from massive decks and horizon pool. Phillips would have been the vendor from hell for the conga line of agents who have all had the listing for the past 16 years. Each time a buyer would make an offer, he would put the price up again. He finally achieved $9 mil after first listing it in 2004 for $4.5 mil. It was a beach shack in 2002 when he bought it for $2.36 million and commissioned architect Alan Mitchell to design the three-story house to make the most of the ocean views to Mount Warning. It had a rental fee of $20,000 a week.  Jeremy Bennett from Byron Bay Property Sales was the lucky agent who finally collected this well-earned commission.

The Farm, Ewingsdale

Publicans Fraser Short and Stu Laundy are the new owners of the Farm. The successful venture just off the highway in Ewingsdale was only recently rumoured to be for sale. The new owners intend to keep he successful formula developed by Tom Lane and his wife Emma. Speculation is happening on what the Lanes will be up to next. The price tag of $20 mil was in the air but gossip has it that $16 mil was the final price – but apparently, “everyone is happy”. The Lanes are also the owners of The Range, where Nicole and Keith are staying while filming here. (More in Around The Traps)

The Bower Hotel, Bangalow Road, Byron

This newly renovated Byron Bay boutique property was reported as sold for $18 mil. The actual sale price was $15 mil. This is the first genuine hotel transaction during the pandemic and it has been a morale booster for the whole Australian hotel industry. Sein Lowry, from the Arts Factory, and Byron Bay emergency physician Blake Eddington listed it in January for around $20 million. Gold Coast-based Guok family were the purchasers. The former motel opened last year following an extensive New York-inspired makeover. Watch out for a similar transformation to be happening at the Sunseeker Motel just down the road. This sale follows on from the recent sale for $42 mil for Byron at Byron.

Byron Bay Holiday Village

One of Australia’s first purpose-built backpackers, the Byron Bay Holiday Village, has hit the block in Byron Bay with price expectations of up to $20 million. The property, located at 116-118 Jonson Street, is among the last significant multi-story developable sites in the centre of town. The 4,282sq metre site, shares the same zoning as the adjoining and recently completed Mercato on Byron development and is being handled by JLL’s John Musca and Elliott O’Shea. This is the same team that negotiated the Byron Bay Beach Hotel sale for $104 mil last year.

6 Kennedys Lane Ewingsdale

This was a four-bedroom home on five acres. It was listed for $1.1 mil, mainly because it is seriously affected by highway noise. If it was anywhere else it would have been listed at a higher price. But the road noise was still not a negative factor for more than a few buyers. I was the BA on this one for a client and it became a pile on with multiple bidders aggressively vying for the property. It ended up selling for higher than the quoted price.  I am relating this to indicate what the market is like out there. A lot of my skills these days involve insuring against competitive bidding that is stressful and ultimately expensive.

272 Arthurs Road, Corndale

This property was a trustee sale on 35 Ha. It was in disrepair and needed a lot of work. There was lots of interest when I went to inspect but the auction went over and beyond expectations. It was expecting $1-1.1 mil but went to $1.65 mil. Way above expectations. Apparently the buyers had sold their property and just needed somewhere to live.

3 Alphadale Road, Lindendale

The wooden church with 1 bedroom and 1 bath that I mentioned last month was passed in at auction. Price guide is now $800-850k. It is on half an acre with a full kitchen and parking.

107 Eureka Road, Rosebank

This was a delightful newly renovated character home in the Byron Hinterland. Three bedrooms with a renovated studio on 84 acres with terrific rural views. It had a big turnout at the auction and multiple bidders. The quoted range was $1.5 but managed $1.72 mil on the day.

This newly renovated manager’s quarters in the Byron Arts and Industrial estate just sold for $1.8 mil. A Sydney buyer looking for a regular coastal getaway snapped it up. The agent was Braden Walters from Belle Property Lennox/Byron. He was promoting it as unique and a precedent for this type of property. That was incorrect as a very similar property, also with a contemporary warehouse renovation was sold early last year. This one featured a grand internal staircase and was the resident of illusionist and entertainer Chayne Hultgren, AKA the Space Cowboy.

This is a grand old manor house circa 1904. I inspected this home and loved it the last time it was for sale some time ago. It has 14 feet ceilings, french chandeliers, multiple lounge rooms, four large bedrooms in the main house, extra cottages and guest quarters, and a fully equipped gourmet kitchen. Plenty of room for a pool and tennis court on the 20 acres. Contact Janis Perkins at Real Estate of Distinction and we are talking in the vicinity of $8-9 mil.

Braden Walters from Belle Property is also the listing agent on this very expansive property.  The five-bedroom, five-bathroom pavilion style home sits on 26 acres. The ridgeline escarpment offers expansive views to Broken Head and Lennox. It has a saltwater swimming pool, billiard room, orchards and large machinery shed. All you need for a relaxed covid escape. Looking for mid fours.

This house has one of the best rural views I have ever seen. Once on the same property as the Crystle Castle, Crystle Estate is two stories, four bedrooms, and multiple decks to take in the fabulous view. It is on 17 Ha of land and a long winding driveway. The purchaser of this property will have a lifetime’s free entry to the Crystal Castle as the back gate enters into this well known local attraction. Listed with Braden Walters at Belle Property at Lennox Heads. Thinking of around $3.5 mil.

144 The Warra Willow, Burrinbar is 1/7th share a 150-acre property. “Blue Quandong” was set up in the 1970″s  as a Tenancy in common. There is clean and pure spring water on the land and two gravity-fed water tanks supply your home with pure drinking water. It is completely off-grid and is a large open plan loft style structure with one bedroom. The price tag is $529,000.

This property is a 100-year-old wooden church between Lismore and Alstonville. It sits on half an acre and includes a commercial kitchen, high ceilings, all wood paneling, a large car park, and a loft-style apartment. Be great little business like a restaurant or wedding venue. Will be going to auction on August 22 with McGraths Ballina

This is a bit of a classic. Rustic renovated farmhouse on 90 odd acres. Comes with macadamia trees and a separate studio for ongoing income. Going to auction with Greg Price with Byron Bay First National on Saturday 29th of August.

Have a look at this one and dream. Three character residences on 88 acres. Eight bedrooms and five bathrooms in all, DA approval for a pool. Income-producing macadamia. Trent Stana at Bangalow Real Estate with hopes for over $4,100,000.

This property is causing a bit of a fuss as the owner put it back on the market as soon as it got its Development Approval. It is vacant land but includes DA approval for a restaurant and rural dual occupancy (two full houses). The neighbors are a bit concerned about the rural peace and quiet being broken. It is beside Scarabolotti’s Lookout which has already had ongoing disturbances from illegal campers. Listed with Nick Dunn at McGraths and currently asking $4,250,000.

1/14 Keats St Byron Bay
Not often I see something for sale in Byron Bay this cheap. A two-Bedroom unit in Keats street for $720,000. Keats st is in a good location and walk to town. This unit is the one on the street but has a north aspect. Listed with Harcourts

6149 Tweed Valley Way Burringbar
This is a good entry-level option for an FHB or investor. 3 bed 1 bath basic house on a 986 block of land. $449,000 with Elders Brunswick Heads.

7/293 Wharf Road Goodwood Island (Yamba)
This is a 1 bed 1 bath original fisherman cottage on leased land. The purchase cost is $85,000 for the cottage and lease of land is $65 a week. Cannot be expanded or rebuilt. Has river views. Contact agent down below

How much is a block of land in Byron Bay these days? This one would give you a good idea. This one is in the Seacliffs estate, inland from Suffolk Park. Has a view on to trees and is 1153 square metres. Nick Dunn from McGrath’s Byron Bay is asking $785,000.

At the other end of the scale is a block of land in Border Street, Belongil Beach.  751 M2 with a short walk across the dunes to Belongil Beach. Yours for only $2.25 mil.

Matt Damon not here
Early last year there were rumours that Matt Damon was buying a property in Byron to be near his mate Chris Hemsworth. He did make an extended visit and stayed at a luxury rental in Owenia Way, Broken Head (pictured). Instead, the leading man just purchased in Brooklyn Heights, a not very upmarket area in New York, and upset his new neighbours. He closed the street off for the whole day, while a crane lifted furniture and plants up the 14th-floor apartment.

Nicole Also Buys in NY
Good to hear that “Our Nicole” will be spending some time in Byron Bay Shooting her new series ( see Around The Traps this issue). She and hubby Keith Urban have just purchased a two-bedroom New York City apartment for US $3.5 million.

The couple already have properties in  Los Angeles, the Southern Highlands, a farm in Bunya Hill, a penthouse in Sydney but spend most of their time in a mansion in Nashville. Nicole started her property ladder ascent with a one-bedroom apartment in Mossman while still a teenager in the 80s.

Who is Zac Efron?
I had to ask my daughter who is Zac Efron and why I should care. The star of big Hollywood movies like High School Musical and a current heartthrob has been laying low in Byron to wait out the COVID crisis. He has been spotted in only a few local haunts but mainly the new and very trendy General Store. The Bangalow Road, Byron venue has its own “trendy” quota as it is owned and run by a member of a globally successful band, Parkway Drive. Yes, so named as the garage where the boys first thrashed their axes in was in Parkway Drive Ewingsdale. Byron Council has stopped putting up street signs as they are quickly harvested as momentoes.