Rip Curl founder Brian Singer buys Byron Bay’s most expensive house

The co-founder of iconic surfwear brand Rip Curl has emerged as the buyer of Byron Bay’s most expensive house.

35 Marine Parade, Byron Bay. Picture: Supplied.

The co-founder of iconic surfwear brand Rip Curl, Brian Singer, has emerged as the buyer of Byron Bay’s most expensive house.

Mr Singer fought off high profile celebrities and cashed-up expats to acquire 35 Marine Parade, Wategos Beach at a record $22m last month. He bought the weekender, billed as one of the iconic NSW township’s most prestigious beachfront mansions, sight-unseen from his Melbourne base.

The deal with Mr Singer was negotiated within five days of the holiday house hitting the market and settled early Friday.

The house was sold by Geoff Banks, the founder of Morgan & Banks and his wife Ros, both of whom are long time Byron Bay holidaymakers. The Morgans sold Wategos because they were not using it as much as they once did. They bought the 664 sqm site in 1994, paying $1.24m, public records reveal. They have since developed an architecturally designed house.

35 Marine Parade, Wategos, Source: Supplied, ,

More than $20m was expected for the four-bedroom and four-bathroom home that is set back from Marine Parade, allowing privacy from the hordes of holiday-makers, celebrities and locals who descend on the sublime ­Wategos Beach come summer.

Sydney agent Michael Coombs of LJ Hooker Avnu negotiated the deal, but declined to comment on the identity of the buyer.

Interest in the northern NSW township has reached fever pitch with some agents claiming it is now among Australia’s most expensive residential real estate.

Features of the Wategos Beach house include a heated wet-edge pool along with resort-style entertaining spaces, fireplaces and a media room.

When the Marine Parade house hit the market in September, Mr Coombs said it was the best property in ­Wategos. It is set back from the road, at the end of the street, screened from the public and has a 180-degree views.

Nearby, the six-bedroom and four-bathroom 11 Marine Parade sold for $18.85m in March last year.

35 Marine Parade, wategos, source: supplied, ,

First National Byron Bay agent Helene Adams says there was a lot more interest in Byron from Sydney and Melbourne residents due to COVID-19. “There’s a lot of them moving up here,” Ms Adams said, adding that the average sale price in Byron was $1.575m, which will buy a three to four-bedder house on about 600sq m in the suburbs.

But those wanting to live at Wategos, on Lighthouse Road, Belongil or on the so-called Golden Grid that includes the old part of town with historic Queenslanders on large blocks will have to pay much more.

Rip Curl was sold to outdoor clothing label Kathmandu for around $350m last year.

LH Hooker Byron Bay agent Glenn Irwin assisted with the transaction.