Attempts to bring Mark Wahlberg in on $200m Byron Bay development

The business partner of Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg has dropped $200 million for a development in the centre of Byron Bay as the pair expand their chain of burger joints.

Another Hollywood heavyweight could soon join the ranks of movie stars in Byron Bay with Mark Wahlberg’s business partner forking out $200 million for a development in the centre of town.

United Cinemas owner Sam Mustaca has bought the Mercato on Byron shopping centre on Jonson Street in partnership with Melbourne’s Pelligra family and plans to build an eco-friendly, five-star luxury hotel on part of the site.

“I think we might be talking to Mark Wahlberg about the development,” Mr Mustaca said. “But we need to see what the community wants first.”

Mr Mustaca has also gone into partnership with Wahlberg and is opening 15 movie-themed Wahlburgers rest­aurants across Australia in a deal worth $50 million — with the first opening at Circular Quay within months.

Investors are looking to have actor Mark Wahlberg bring his Wahlburgers chain to Byron Bay. Picture: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images

“I know Mark loves Byron,” Mr Mustaca said. “He chose to spend his two weeks in quarantine there when he came over here in January.”

But he said any decision to open a Wahlburgers restaurant in Byron Bay would only be done in consultation with the community.

Mr Mustaca said it could be a perfect fit with Thor star Chris Hemsworth and wife Elsa Pataky topping the billing of a superstar cast list visiting and filming in the area, including Hemsworth’s mate Matt Damon and Nicole Kidman.

“Byron is unique and we don’t want to lose that. It is the new Hollywood and anyone who is anyone wants to be there,” he said.

Mr Mustaca and partner Ross Pelligra are understood to have paid in the region of $120 million for the 1.1ha site in the heart of Byron that was ­initially rumoured to have been bought by Sydney pub tsar Justin Hemmes.

The partners plan to spend another $80 million on building a luxury hotel and restaurants to create 200 new jobs in the town.

The Mercato shopping centre in Byron Bay, which has been bought by Mark Wahlberg’s business partner.

The hotel operator is yet to be selected.

He said there was already a development application in place and “once the appropriate permits have been issued by the local stakeholders and the governing bodies then with their blessings construction will commence immediately”.

The existing shopping centre will be upgraded and tenants including Woolworths and Palace Cinemas will continue their leases.

Asked why he invested in the area Mr Mustaca joked: “My wife loves Byron. We stayed there recently but it was hard to find a luxury hotel offering in the centre of town.”

Mr Pelligra said: “The new luxury hotel will not compete but will complement all the other food and beverage ­facilities that make Byron Bay so special.’’