Byron boltholes seduce city-slickers

Buyers are on the lookout for a slice of paradise, and top-end properties are holding their value.

The view from St Helena Road, Byron Bay

Sydney and Melbourne buyers, often looking for a second home, are scouring scenic Byron Bay for a beachside bolthole, undeterred by reports a major housing subdivision could increase traffic congestion in the ever popular township on the idyllic northern NSW coast.

The appeal of buying in country regions where purchasers can get more house for less money — including a garden with a lawn, a spare bedroom and even the promised land of a butler’s pantry — is particularly attractive.

LJ Hooker Byron Bay agent Liam Annesley says Byron Bay is still good value and there’s been a price drop in the mum and dad range of housing of about 4 per cent for anything priced under $1.2 million. But he says higher-priced properties continue to hold their value.

“You will see less property on the market, which means what is on the market is highly contested. Our prices are relatively stable,” says Annesley.

He says there has been strong interest in a property being sold by Tom Ingham, of the poultry producing family, Inghams ­Enterprises.

Ingham has listed his McLeods Shoot property with price expectations of $3.65m to $3.85m. The four-bedroom St Helena Road property is positioned high on the ridgeline and has views from Byron Bay to Coolangatta. The home, completed in 2016, features plaid style patterned marble floors in the bathrooms, soaring 5.5m ceilings and two guest bedrooms on the lower level.

Annesley says there’s a 12.5m Greek-edge ceramic pool as well as an outdoor bathroom with free-standing bath.

Property records show Ingham paid $1.575m for the 4047 sqm site in 2010. Expressions of interest close on April 26.

“Interest has been good … Byron Bay is a lifestyle destination,’’ Annesley says.

“We are seeing a lot of people from Sydney and Melbourne move to the area. They are looking at a lifestyle change altogether and to cut down to a three-day work week.

“The majority of them in this buying calibre are keeping a permanent residence back in Sydney and Melbourne. They like the option of living here and travelling back and forth.”

Annesley says there has also been strong interest in 53 Brownell Drive, Wategos Beach.

Annesley says the property, priced at $4.9m to $5.1m, is owned by Byron Bay businessman Barry Wallace, who is looking to downsize. It has been popular with interstate buyers.

But he says a major housing subdivision planned for the Ewingsdale Road which leads into the Byron Bay township could increase traffic.

The project by Sydney developer Terry Agnew and developer VillaWorld had already been knocked back but the developers will continue to lobby for it. Agnew could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Annesley says: “I think they have to come up with a (new) traffic plan for incoming and outgoing traffic. It could have a detrimental effect.’’

Meanwhile, McGrath agent Ian Daniels is selling a property at 15 Brownell Drive, Wategos Beach with a price guide of $3.7m via private treaty. The contemporary property with views to Mt Warning has caught the attention of a number of Sydney and Melbourne buyers. Daniels says it is keenly priced and he doubts the property, on an elevated 690 sq m block, will sell to a local buyer.

The four bedroom property with two bathrooms is being sold by Brisbane plumber Matthew Haynes and his stylist wife ­Melissa.