Hot Properties

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 Cleaners had come in weeks before the auction to clear up much of the mess but inside there were still stacks of outdated TVs, boxes, filing cabinets buried under cobwebs and a pile of loose doors.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 Wollangbar 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, 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 one is Lismore Casino and Kyogle

This piece outlines what is on offer in Clarence Valley.

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.