Fiery debate erupts in Byron Shire Council Chambers over fate of popular Tyagarah nudist beach in northern NSW

Fiery debate has erupted during a Byron council meeting over the fate of a popular – and divisive – nudist beach. Some say the strip of sand is totally safe, while others have a different tale to tell.

Byron Naturists Inc members at Byron Shire Council Chambers at Mullumbimby on Thursday. Club president Bradley Benham (front and centre) Picture: Sam Stolz

It’s a face-off over clothes-off.

A fiery debate has erupted at Byron Shire Council Chambers over the fate of a divisive nude beach, which NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is aiming to close.

One side says the 800m stretch of sand is completely safe – the other says it has left them afraid.

On Sunday, more than 150 naturists, some from as far as the Sunshine Coast, frolicked naked in protest against the potential closure of Tyagarah Beach, 20 minutes north of Byron Bay.

The beach has been clothing-optional since 1998, but after calls to revoke its status as a nude beach in 2018 were rejected, the parks service has taken aim.

Parks and Wildlife first stated it would close the beach by April 8. But after fierce backlash from the 1000-plus strong naturist community in Byron Bay, it will now enter a consultation process, deferring an outcome until June 30.

A Byron Naturists Inc online petition to save the beach has more than 6000 signatures.

Naturists held a rally at Tyagarah Beach near Byron Bay on Sunday to save its clothing optional status. Picture: Sam Stolz

The decision was a momentary win for the passionate naturists who say “nude recreation is a legitimate way of life” and “it’s our right to skinny dip”.

But those opposing stood their ground on Thursday morning, during a somewhat chaotic debate at Mullumbimby. 

Byron Naturists Inc president Bradley Benham, a local for more than three decades, said he regularly takes his children to the beach and has always felt safe.

“This is the only nude beach for the people of the Northern Rivers and is a significant community asset that has been in place for over 25 years. It’s loss would be devastating,” he told councillors and Mayor Michael Lyon.

“It’s absurd that dog owners have five designated beaches across the Shire, while nudists and skinny-dippers could have none.”

Mr Benham said losing the beach would “be a rejection of the values that made Byron Bay famous – diversity, variety, freedom of expression, personal choice, tolerance and acceptance”.

Nude blogger Jessa O’Brien, who has amassed close to 200,000 followers on Instagram, said she usually visits the beach as a solo female and safety had “vastly” improved since 2018.

Nude blogger Jessa O’Brien (kneeling) says she has felt safe at the beach since a crackdown on anti-social behaviour in 2018. Picture: Sam Stolz

However, Tyagarah woman Ebony Eagles told the council that had not been her experience – she broke down in tears at the podium over alleged “distressing” encounters.

Ms Eagles said she recently moved to the area and her family was “very excited to be so close to the beach”.

She told the council men exposed “full-blown erections” towards her and her family on a number of occasions.

Ms Eagles said incidents of “lewd behaviour and harassment had occurred within and outside of the designated clothing-optional zones at the beach”.

Christopher Moyles said “Council has never had any right to manage the nude beach” and that police, park rangers and the council “failed” to make it a safe space.

“Original Byron Bay nudist” Gwen Gould said Tyagarah was “now not safe”, and “times have changed”.

Byron Shire councillors Duncan Day and Sarah Ndiaye, along with Cr Lyon, took the arguments into account.

Cr Day said: “I don’t know if you are all aware, but this matter is now out of our hands,” he said.

He said Parks and Wildlife had extended the tentative closing date to June 30 and consultation would open to all.

It is not clear whether the matter will be mentioned again in council before then.

The nearest nude beach to Tyagarah Beach is Samurai Beach, some 600kms away just north of Sydney.

It’s understood Parks and Wildlife currently manage the remaining nude beaches across the state. The service department will be contacted for comment.

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