More than $37m is expected for this beachfront gem

Property developer Shane Smollen’s Belongil beachfront, on a 70m deep block purchased from the late showman John Cornell, is expected to eclipse the previous $37m record sale price.

The house is described as strong, robust and minimalist in style.

An architecturally designed beachfront home in Byron Bay, completed this week, is expected to sell for more than $40m — eclipsing the previous $37m record in the prized destination in the far northern NSW enclave made popular by Hollywood superstars.

The current record is held by Range farmhouse at Coopers Shoot, which was recently sold by Tom and Emma Lane of the Oroton fashion empire. That deal stands as the most expensive residential sale in the highly sought after far northern NSW region.

But it is expected to be no competition for the prized house developed by Sydney property developer Shane Smollen on half an acre on the Belongil strip. It is set on a 70m deep beachfront block purchased from the late showman John Cornell, five minutes from the ever popular township.

Following a three-year build, the finishing touches to Shane and Rebecca Smollen’s beach house, designed in a U-shape with its roof deck capturing Julian Rocks, Cape Byron Lighthouse and the bay, was listed for sale on Friday morning through Nick Dunn of McGrath Estate Agents Byron Bay, and Ed Silk Byron Bay.

Mr Smollen, a director of developer Central Element and shareholder and board member of McGrath Estate Agents, purchased the amalgamated half acre Border St, Belongil site around 2019 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.

Positioned next door to chef Shannon Bennett’s Belongil house and with a 30m plus beachfrontage, the house was constructed from three types of stone including Italian Fondovalle porcelain wall tiles, 16mm thick slabs of Italian travertine flooring and blackbutt timbers.

8 Border Street, Belongil, Byron Bay

Mr Smollen stresses although the house is beachfront it is entirely private both from neighbours and from the beach-going public.

The five-bedroom 8 Border Street, Belongil private compound enveloped by bush and rainforest with a sandy track to the surf features the most high end devices available including a two-storey high main wardrobe with its own humidifier, a watch safe, sub zero and wolf appliances, including three types of ovens, as well as an 8.2m x 4.4m heated magnesium pool and spa which can take up to eight people. There’s also a $32,000 in-house dry cleaner, known as a V-Zug Refresh Butler which sanitises and refreshes clothes, as well as multiple washing machines and a gym. The living room is encased with fully stackable glass sliding doors with a concealment area and retractable fly screens.

The house’s architect John Bornas, creative director, of Melbourne architects, Workroom Design, said it was an opportunity to work on an incredible site spanning three titles.

“It was our response to that site that made the home a success. “The site provides a lot of opportunity. How we responded to that opportunity is what makes the home successful. It does play a dual role in providing a refuge from the elements but also a connection to them.”

Meanwhile, Mr Smollen said he is unfazed by the 25-30 per cent price drop the Byron region is undergoing given the huge price rises sustained during the covid era. He says there’s been some strong purchases in Byron Bay of late.

8 Border Street, Belongil, Byron Bay

“We are selling for legitimate reasons, we will let the market decide. It’s a brand new property, everything is under warranty there is real peace of mind when it comes to this property.”

Nor is he concerned about rising sea levels along the Belongil.

“The main bedroom is set back 27 metres from the beach. The house is designed to be very open with five bedrooms including two separate self-contained suites with one accessed from the front door,” Mr Smollen said. There’s another separate suite with street access that could be used for a nanny or a caretaker and there’s three large ensuited bedrooms as well as a theatre room. The living room connects with the bar and study. There’s a total of six bathrooms.

Mr Smollen describes the house as strong, robust and minimalist in style. “There’s a lot of finesse in this house, anybody that understands design and construction or has a very good eye for detail will be able to look into the property’s finishes … and see its monumental style,” he said.