Graya reaps major Byron Bay windfall
An off-market Byron Bay land flip has delivered Queensland developer Graya a substantial windfall, while expanding a Chemist Warehouse-linked family’s footprint along one of Australia’s most tightly held beachfront strips.
Damien Gance and wife Sasha Robertson have paid about $20 million for a vacant Belongil Beach parcel adjoining the property they acquired in February for $33.5 million.
The purchase lifts the couple’s holding from 2097 square metres to c3200sqm.
The parcel will be subdivided out of a 2022 sqm parcel Graya bought from developer Adam Garrison in 2023 for $20.65m.
Graya, led by brothers Rob and Andrew Gray, only settled in February.
Two dwellings are expected on the balance.
Family buying spree
Mr Gance and Ms Robertson bought Malia from property developer and investor David Kingston and interior designer Tamsin Johnson.
Settlement records reported at the time indicated the purchase was completed without debt (continues below).
Mr Gance is a pharmacist, Chemist Warehouse director and son of co-founder Sam Gance.
Together with Ms Robertson, he controls a substantial pharmacy portfolio.
The Byron Bay purchases coincide with a series of high-value residential acquisitions by members of the wider Gance family.
Last year, Mr Gance’s uncle, Chemist Warehouse co-founder Jack Gance, and wife Evelynne secured neighbouring Lansell Road properties in Toorak for more than $80m.
The combined 6336sqm holding was acquired from V-Leader founder Andy Zhang and wife Miaomiao Zhang and is expected to be redeveloped as a single estate.
In 2021, Sam Gance paid $43m for a contemporary mansion on a 3330sqm Lansell Road parcel diagonally adjacent the holdings later acquired by Jack.
That property was sold by Mark Healey, son of British billionaire Eddie, and his wife Kelly.
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