Byron Bay record smashed with $30m-plus Belongil Beach sale

A 2023-built beachfront home in Byron Bay has broken the record for the far northern NSW township, selling to an interstate buyer for more than $30m.

The five-bedroom, six-bathroom house features three types of stone, Italian travertine flooring and blackbutt timbers.

A 2023-built beachfront home in Byron Bay has broken the record for the far northern NSW township, selling to an interstate buyer for more than $30m.

The 8 Border Steet property on the famous Belongil strip, which first hit the market with a guide of $40m in December 2023, is set on a 70m deep, half-acre beachfront block. The site was purchased from the late showman John Cornell, five minutes from the ever popular Byron Bay township.

Christian Sergiacomi and TV celebrity Shelley Craft of Pacifico Property Buyers Agents introduced the interstate buyers, with the deal negotiated by McGrath’s Nick Dunn and co-agent Ed Silk.

Mr Dunn said the record sale revealed the strength of the Byron Bay real estate market, while local veteran agent Ed Silk said negotiating sales in Byron Bay had been tough last year.

“We came off the whole Covid surge in prices and we had to come back to a balance,” Mr Silk said.

“I think sales will be OK this year. Affordability is an issue because of the price of money. The days of free money are gone. I really think the prices in Byron will be balanced.

“I don’t think we are in for a big boom, but I think we will see normal turnover. We will still see demand from all over, from locals, from the cities. I am not seeing much demand from overseas, but it’s mainly demand from Aussies who want to have the dream of living here. And there’s always local turnover.”

8 Border Street, Belongil Beach, Byron Bay.

The Border St selling agents were tight-lipped about the buyers’ identity but the sale price is believed to be above the record $30m paid when Queensland developer Adam Flaskas purchased a Wategos property back in December 2023.

The vendor of 8 Border Street, Belongil, Central Element director and McGrath Estate Agents board adviser Shane Smollen, said it was ‘‘bittersweet’’ selling the ‘‘passion project’’ which he developed with wife Rebecca, but ‘‘life had moved on’’.

“The buyers … will get immense pleasure, but it will be a really hard property to drive past,” Mr Smollen said.

“It’s irreplaceable, a very special property. There’s next-level sophistication coming into the Byron market … with some of the projects coming on stream,” Mr Smollen added.

Following a three-year build, the Smollens’ beach house is designed in a U-shape with its roof deck capturing Julian Rocks, Cape Byron Lighthouse and the bay. It is next door to chef Shannon Bennett’s Belongil House and sports a 30m-plus beach frontage.

Mr Smollen purchased the site with plans to build his forever home but has since decided to decamp further north to the Gold Coast, due to his two daughters’ schooling needs.

The five-bedroom, six-bathroom house was constructed from three types of stone, with Italian Fondovalle porcelain wall tiles, 16mm thick slabs of Italian travertine flooring and blackbutt timbers.

While the 8 Border Street sale is a record for the Byron township, the current rural/hinterland record is held just outside of town. It was negotiated at $33.65m when Tom and Emma Lane of the Oroton fashion empire sold The Range at Coopers Shoot.

That deal stands as the most expensive rural sale in the highly sought-after far northern NSW region.

The Lanes have meanwhile listed another property in the Byron hinterland with their Newrybar hinterland estate High View for sale.

Overlooking rolling hills and the Pacific Ocean coastline, the 2.75ha property has a guide of $10m through Byron agent Ruth Gotterson. The property, next door to Liam Hemsworth’s estate, features an original residence with two additional villas comprising five bedrooms and five bathrooms in total.