Justin Hemmes doubles down at Belongil Beach
Justin Hemmes has doubled down in Belongil Beach’s Childe Street – snapping up a second home in four months, this time for c$22 million.
The unrenovated dwelling on a 2000 square metre waterfront pile was sold by Byron Bay Property Sales’ Jeremy Bennett.
The dwelling is near a renovated, modest two bedroom traditional beach shack, on 1922 sqm, which the hospitality entrepreneur acquired from the family of late businessman David Hains earlier this year, for c$17m.
The properties aren’t connected.
Mr Hemmes, 50, spent part of his childhood holidaying in Byron Bay.
In 2021, the entrepreneur’s Merivale outlaid c$13.5m for the ex-Cheeky Monkey bar and backpackers and a neighbouring shop, occupied as a Thai massage store, for a hospitality venture.
Bigger deals coming
Little is known about the Belongil Beach dwelling, which sold off-market.
At $22m, the price falls just short of the Byron Bay record – $23m – struck last year when Afterpay co-founder Anthony Eisen and his wife, Samantha, acquired a Marine Parade home overlooking Wategos Beach, from graziers Cameron and Ilone Small who developed it 25 years ago.
A Byron Bay Hinterland record was set last April when Tom Lane, heir to the Oroton business, and his wife, Emma, sold a 48 hectare Coopers Shoot estate, The Farm in Byron Bay, for $37m (story continues below).
Not long earlier, Clare Mulham, daughter of Nutrimetics founder Imelda Roche, banked $26m for a 16ha Suffolk Park pile.
That seller was the daughter of late stockbroker Michael Toltz, Fiona Toltz-Gower, and Joren Gower.
Olivia Newton-John also formed part of a consortium which sold the Gaia retreat, in Brooklet, to Andrew Forrest in October, 2021.
That deal was worth c$30m.
The Hemmes purchase comes three weeks since Kim Jones Property listed the Bluewater resort, with six cottages covering 2000 sqm at 1-3 Don St, overlooking Belongil Beach, with $45m-plus price hopes.
As well as operators and investors, suitors which might convert this waterfront property into a landmark dwelling are expected to look in.
Last year, meanwhile, CBRE offered the ex-Elements of Byron golf course.
On 39.5ha, with 1.1 kilometres of Belongil Beach frontage, it carries a $160-$180m guide.
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