Byron Bay real estate: Exclusive properties and who owns them
Some are heritage mansions or homesteads, others are the latest in luxury living - these 14 of the best homes in Byron and surrounds and the people who own them.
Byron Shire
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A hike in property values hasn’t stopped buyers seeking new abodes at the higher end of the market as they look for a more picturesque setting away from southern capitals.
Homes have gained 30 per cent in value in some areas of the North Coast, but the demand is so high there is no end to it in sight.
Heritage mansions and new bespoke luxury homes have sold like hot cakes.
Other have stayed put, and while their value has increased, they have remained in sight of prospective buyers.
These are just some of the best homes in Byron and the surrounding area and the people who own them.
McAuleys Lane, Myocum, Byron Shire
Sold for $2.8 million in October 2020 to Alexandra Stewart, this Myocum home features wraparound decks overlooking a lagoon-style pool, spa and 8900sq m of tropical gardens.
The three-level, four-bedroom home features high-vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, skylights, picture windows and timber floors that give the open-plan interiors a light and airy feeling.
Set on a picturesque ridgetop, the property enjoys breathtaking ocean views across the Myocum Valley to Byron Bay, Byron Lighthouse and Julian Rocks.
Karinya, Newrybar, Ballina Shire
Sold in 2019 for $4.4 million to Mark Orchard, this luxurious Old Byron Road estate stretches over more than 14ha of premium land and features multiple dwellings including an architecturally-designed home complete with luxury inclusions.
A wide alfresco dining space with a louvred ceiling overlooks the saltwater swimming pool with manicured garden surrounds.
This property also features a separate self-contained cottage, a large barn with horse stables, garages for eight vehicles and off-grid power thanks to 52 solar panels and 55kW battery capacity plus a Yamaha generator.
Hemsworth-Pataky home, Byron Shire
Byron Bay entered the consciousness of Hollywood and the world when Hollywood power couple Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky bought their Broken Head property in September 2014 for $7 million.
Named Kooeloah, the property has been completely transformed into a $20m mega-mansion.
The six-bedroom home has a gym, steam room, media room, games room, vast outdoor living and play areas plus a 50m rooftop infinity pool with ocean views.
Construction began in late 2017 after demolition of an existing eight-bedroom resort-style house.
The property features 10 toilets, seven carparks, a gym, home cinema, a bar, sauna and massage rooms, butler’s pantry and storage for 26 surfboards.
Liam Hemsworth’s Newrybar Downs, Ballina Shire
Built in 1990, the former events centre in Johnston Road, Newrybar, has every feature a Hollywood star may want.
Australian actor Liam Hemsworth paid $6.5 million for the luxury property in November 2020.
The five-bedroom property is effectively two residences in an elegant property located close to Bangalow and Byron Bay, although within the Ballina Shire.
The 3.8ha property features tropical gardens, a detached entertainment pavilion and a level synthetic grass area that can be used for events or lawn bowls.
A garden courtyard separates the main residence from the two-bedroom apartment.
An inviting pool and giant “pavilion” make the property ideal for entertaining A-list friends, while the parklike gardens with views to the hills have already been proven to be the perfect place for VIP guests to arrive via helicopter.
The main residence features two expansive living areas, a well-equipped chef’s kitchen and large windows overlooking the gardens and acreage.
Polly Palms, Byron Shire
The Block presenter Shelley Craft and her real estate agent husband Christian Sergiacomi sold the mid-century, modern renovation project in the heart of Byron Bay to Kelly Lorkin and Barry Davison for $2.3 million last April.
The new owners renamed the property Polly Palms Byron, offering it for hire for photo shoots, events and films.
Recently reimagined for all its mid-century glory, this home sits on the hill of Paterson Street.
The home is light filled from front to back and enjoys sunsets and afternoon ocean breezes. It is iconic to Byron Bay.
The new owners added a heated pool, and modernised the inside of three-bedroom, fibro cottage affectionately known by locals as the “little blue house”.
The floorplan and layout remained the same, but its exterior became ocean green.
Pacifico House, Byron Shire
The Block presenter Shelley Craft and her estate agent husband Christian Sergiacomi moved from “the little blue house” to their new Belongil home recently after purchasing the land for $1.3 million in 2017.
The home is located in the site of what was the Byron Bay whaling station from 1954 to 1962.
Focusing on the textural and the natural, Pacifico House is a homage to the industrial past and the coastal milieu the home sits within.
Jase Sullivan and Paul Uhlmann Architects worked closely with the owners to create a unique home.
Built by Marloane, Pacifico House mixes antique and reused pieces, with roughened plaster walls and timber to offer a luxury-meets beach house style that can be described as “chic Byron Bay”.
James Street, Girards Hill, Lismore
Built 1890, the three-bedroom, two-bathrooms home was bought by John Lacey and Auralia Rose in July for $1,005,000.
Located in Girards Hill, the property is surrounded by other similar homes that transport you back to a bygone era while keeping you right in the middle of the action.
A secret addition to this property was the studio designed by Federal architect Julie Lipsett which would provide a retreat for any artist, or make for the perfect home office.
Rosewood Place, Lennox Head, Ballina Shire
Built in 2008 and bought by Mark and Lauren Owens for $2.3 million in March 2021, the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home features ocean and rural views, a guest retreat, home cinema and an underground bunker.
The 1200sq m Lennox Head home has been described as an “outstanding example of modern luxury and designer style” and a ”stellar home”.
It also has solar power, a veggie patch, data hub, walk-in pantry, ducted airconditioning, three separate living areas, Tasmanian oak timber floors, office nook and a sparkling in-ground pool.
The master bedroom has his and hers walk-in robes and an ensuite.
Koreelah, Byron Shire
Property investors James Dawson and Anthony Pangallo purchased it, restored and renovated it into a popular holiday let since 2015.
The main home features five bedrooms, all opening onto a wraparound veranda.
The house also features 2.5 oversized bathrooms, a caterer’s kitchen and living area with an open-stone fireplace.
The 16.5m mineral pool and five-person spa add to the charm and so does the pizza oven.
A second kitchen and living area can be separated from main quarters, turning into a secondary accommodation, nanny zone, or home office with separate entrance and courtyard.
Set on a private 3.88ha, the property also features a 10KW Solar system, an 80-tree olive grove planted in 2018, a 20-tree citrus orchard, plus a number of other fruit trees and Hollywood style palms that are at least 100 years old.
The Springs, Byron Shire
Built in 2016 and sold in 2020 to Andrew Swan for $3.5 million, this three-bedroom, two-bathroom home has received accolades as Byron Bay’s best kitchen and best bathroom from the Master Builder’s Association.
It was built on a 15ha property at Wilsons Creek.
It features panoramic views of the Byron hinterland, including the nearby township of Mullumbimby.
The modern homestead has also been awarded as best house for the Master Builders Association's northern regions division shortly after its completion five years ago.
Designed by Seven Mile Architects, the home features an open plan kitchen and bespoke timber cabinetry.
Spread over one level, the contemporary country home makes the most of the views out to Mount Chincogan and the surrounding Night Cap ranges with grand floor to ceilings windows.
Other perks of the picturesque property include underground electricity, a concrete water tank, a professional sound system, fully equipped media room and solar panels.
Marine Parade, Wategos Beach, Byron Bay
Rip Curl co-founder Brian Singer made headlines when he purchased the Wategos Beach home in October 2020 for $22 million.
Mr Singer bought the house from recruitment industry boss Geoff Morgan and his wife Ros.
The purchase through a Sydney realtor set a record for Byron Bay and for the North Coast.
It’s easy to see why — nestled in one of Wategos’ most sought -after locations, Marine Parade, it features iconic Byron Bay ocean views.
The property features a heated infinity pool, multiple public and private indoor and outdoor spaces.
Coolamon Scenic Drive, Coorabell, Byron Shire
Australian fashion designer, entrepreneur and author Lorna Jane Clarkson paid $14 million for this luxurious Coorabell estate that became famous as the place where Hollywood star Margot Robbie was married in 2016 to Tom Ackerley.
The founder of activewear label Lorna Jane’s 23ha property fronts the Wilson River, features large deep swimming holes and waterfalls and has its own orchard and vegetable garden.
The property has a long list of VIP visitors, including Suits megastar Gabriel Macht and his Aussie actor wife Jacinda Barrett over a decade ago.
Besides the main four-bedroom residence, the place features several out buildings, a European-style pool, a 4.2 megalitre dam and 1km of river frontage with private walking tracks.
An important feature of the property is the American-style macrocarpa barn.
It has four large machinery bays underneath and a curved timber staircase to a mezzanine with a wood stove.
The barn is big enough to house multiple boats, cars and trucks across the two levels.
The Byronian, Byron Shire
Featuring 11 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and 14 garages, the Coopers Shoot property was the original home of international music producer Tom Misner.
Current owners Deborah and Robert Wild are co-directors of the Evolve College school of massage training.
They purchased the property in 2014 for $7.9 million from Mr Misner.
The property features a helipad, four horse paddocks and stables as well as a wet-edge pool and floodlit tennis court.
The Wilds added a second residence with its own pool, and a conference centre with offices, film and recording studio, and conference room.
Childe Street, Belongil Beach, Byron Shire
The Belongil Beach retreat of Ezy Mortgage founder Peter James made headlines when it was sold, unseen, to “a Melbourne buyer off market”.
It was revealed the house was sold to businessman John Bennetts and Ann Ryan for $12 million.
The property boasts 2023sq m of absolute beachfront land and comprises of two houses on four titles.
The main house is a two-storey, two-bedroom and two-bathroom timber home, well known by those who frequent the beach.
The second home features three bedrooms and one bathroom plus a carport.
‘Good for the comp’: Rare scenes in LJ Hooker League
A slice of history was made and a couple of teams put in statement performances as the LJ Hooker League kicked off over the weekend.
Wild horses free to good homes
Most captured wild horses do not get named, but pregnant Gypsy was one of the lucky ones. She’s now with a family, who’ve named her foal Pebbles, as part of a unique rehoming program.