The king of Merivale Justin Hemmes has just taken the property crown of Byron Bay, following an off-market purchase of a Belongil Beach holiday house for about $22 million. The sale, rumoured to have taken place last week, comes just three months after the hospitality heavyweight picked up a low-key beach shack on the same strip for $16 million.

Hemmes’ second Belongil buy is, like his first, on exclusive Childe Street. The large landholding – more than 2000 square metres – comes with an unrenovated beach house with direct access to the sand. The two properties are not adjoining.