The Next Byron Bay: Where is the next unearthed sea-change gem for regional living

As house prices in Byron Bay and the area’s popularity reach tipping point, the search is on for the next unearthed seachange gem. FIND OUT WHERE

James MacSmith

5 min read

May 2, 2021 - 6:00AM

News Corp Australia Network

Beautiful Thirroul has become very-sought after.

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As house prices in Byron Bay and the area’s popularity reach tipping point, the search is on in earnest for the next unearthed sea-change regional gem.

Once a laid-back, barefoot hippie and surfer refuge, Byron now boasts some of the most sought-after and expensive real estate on the planet and is home to some of the world’s biggest celebrities, including Chris Hemsworth and Zac Efron.

Byron Bay is beautiful but it might have jumped the shark.

For many the big bucks and big names flowing into the area have reduced the accessibility, affordability and even enjoyment of Byron. The allure of the blessed geography and near-perfect climate is on the wane, as is the potential for capital growth for those getting into the market there.

So where might the next Byron Bay be?

SAWTELL

Like Byron, this quiet coastal village boasts great geographic assets: beautiful beaches, protected bays, long headlands and good surfing. The media house price according to Core Logic is $743,000, a third of Byron’s $2.2 million, and has grown 2.48 per cent over the past year.

Just 10 minutes south of regional centre Coffs Harbour, Sawtell’s population of 3,490 is almost a third of Byron’s with the Coffs Harbour Airport located just outside the town.

It’s not hard to tell why Sawtell outrated Byron Bay as a desirable place to live.

Raquel and Josh Desic moved to Sawtell with their children Pearl and Mia from Sydney’s eastern suburbs 18 months ago and are slowly renovating their dream home.

“We both had big jobs in media we needed to pay off our house but our lifestyle was completely out of whack,” Ms Desic said.

“We were stressed to our eyeballs with our jobs and mortgage and were looking for something else. We wanted to go back a step. I remember driving in, it was one of the most beautiful spots I had seen.

“We bought on old 70s home to renovate, with the ocean on one side and the mountains on another, we feel so lucky.

Josh and Raquel Desic with children Mia (r) and Pearl have moved to beautiful Sawtell. Picture: Supplied

“We have our own little community, there’s a nice little cafe culture. It is kind of like a small town Byron. There is an absolutely amazing walk from Murrays Beach, which is dog friendly, to Bonville Headland. I do it most days with our little sausage dog to watch the dolphins and the whales.

“It’s another reason why we moved here.”

Ten years ago Sawtell beat out Byron Bay, Jindabyne, Kiama and Tweed Heads to be rated the most desirable place to move in country NSW in a University of New England ‘amenity index’ study. So it’s star is set to rise sooner or later.

THIRROUL

This seaside beauty 20 minutes north of Wollongong is being slowly subsumed into the regional capital but the rugged coastline should ensure it is never completely swallowed up.

Within commuting distance of Sydney, Thirroul was already growing in popularity as the older demographic made way for younger families and couples before real estate guru John McGrath let the cat out of the bag last year with The McGrath Report 2021. In it he rated the unassuming regional locale as one of his top property picks.

Real estate guru John McGrath rates Thirroul highly. Picture: Supplied

“With COVID-19 changing many people’s minds about working remotely, you’ll see little lifestyle gems like Thirroul in the Illawarra region take off over the next few years,” Mr McGrath wrote.

“Sitting on the seaside, only a few kilometres from Wollongong and a very easy commute to the big smoke, this lifestyle will become more in demand from savvy locals, Sydney executives and nearby empty nesters in search of the ultimate sea-change.”

Thirroul sits on the south coast rail line, and boasts incredible natural beauty via the escarpment above and ocean it sits aside. For outdoor lovers, the area offers plenty of bushwalking and access to numerous surfing beaches.

One of many gorgeous character homes on Lachlan St in Thirroul. Picture: Supplied

“Without a doubt, it is on the map,” David Hyslop of AM Rutty Coastal – Wollongong said.

“There is space, lifestyle and affordability. It’s been quiet for years but people have cottoned on.

“It’s almost like Sydney’s north beaches, that it’s out of the city like Thirroul is out of Wollongong. At the same time it’s so unique with the mountain so close to the sea. So many people see it for the magical place that it is. We have had a lot of people from the likes of Bowral, Five Dock, Dulwich Hill, the shire and Campbelltown who have often rented here first and then moved.”

McCauleys Beach at Thirroul,

Thirroul’s median house price has grown almost 20 per cent over the last 12 months.

Despite its growth, Thirroul is a character town that has kept its own world charm as represented by popular music and theatre venue Anita’s Theatre, which was built as a cinema in 1925, operated as a roller skating rink from the 60s through the 90s before being renovated and reopened in 2007.

The median house price in Thirroul is $1.4 million, according to Core Logic. That has grown 18.1 per cent over the past year. It’s population was 6,083 in the 2016 census.

Midnight Oil playing a gig at Anita's Theatre in Thirroul. Picture: Richard Dobson

ETTALONG BEACH

Ettalong Beach’s laid-back lifestyle and proximity to Sydney have made it a hotspot for try-before-you-buy renters seeking a permanent sea-change in this sought-after Central Coast enclave.

In September last year, six months after the onset of the COVID pandemic, leading real estate agency First National had 79 tenants on their waitlist, with just four vacancies.

That was a dramatic shift on September 2019, when First National had 19 vacant properties and just eight tenants waiting. As demand continues to boom, currently they have six vacancies and 21 tenants waiting.

Ettalong Beach is close to both Pearl Beach and even Killcare, both areas that have enjoyed significant capital growth in recent years. The suburb of 4,793 locals has an old school feel but enjoys modern amenities and recreation areas courtesy of a multi-million dollar upgrade seven years ago.

Ettalong Beach ticks plenty of boxes for homebuyers.

A convenient commute to Sydney, the suburb’s media house price is $760,000, which has grown 4.25 per cent over the past 12 months.

“A stark contrast between capital city as well as city fringe and regional rental vacancies persists in NSW, and what we are observing in Ettalong is a good example,” First National CEO Ray Ellis said.

“This Central Coast suburb is within commuting distance of Sydney’s CBD and offers an excellent train service. Demand from people seeking to live outside the city has increased throughout the COVID pandemic, and this has exacerbated the pressure on vacancies throughout the Central Coast.”

The Agency CEO Matt Lahood says buyers priced out of areas like Byron Bay will still find what they are looking for elsewhere.

“[Buyers can look] further towards the Gold Coast or the hinterland areas just outside of Byron,” he said.

Early morning at Ettalong. Picture: Tom Coggio.

“Also, suburbs like Logan, which are located in the corridor between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Ballina, or even further south like Port Macquarie or Coffs Harbour are also attractive locations.”

Mr Lahood said regional buyers didn’t need to focus on the potential for capital growth.

“With the trend of people moving towards these areas, capital growth should naturally follow, for example like we have seen in Byron Bay and Gold Coast,” he said.

According to CoreLogic Sydney’s median house price as of April 1 was $895,933.