Bold claim: a Byron Bay original beachfront shack just sold for about $18 million, and the buyer appears to be Justin Hemmes, the hospitality titan behind Merivale. And yes, this isn't a one-off—Hemmes has been quietly expanding his coastal property footprint in the famous seaside town for years.
What happened: sources close to Byron Bay’s real estate market indicate that Hemmes purchased a four-bedroom, old-school beach shack for roughly $18 million in a private deal finalized on February 13. The exact sale price and buyer details won’t be publicly disclosed until settlement.
Hemmes’ property spree in the area has been steady. Two years prior, Merivale acquired Cheeky Monkey’s bar in Byron Bay (2021). More recently, Hemmes bought nearby Belongil Beach homes for $22 million and $16 million, and added another Belongil property for $3.75 million last November. Overall, he has been expanding a portfolio that already tops $41 million in residential holdings in the beachside enclave.
About Merivale: what started as a fashion venture for Hemmes’ parents, John and Merivale Hemmes, evolved into a hospitality empire with more than 90 brands and ventures. The group is valued around $3 billion, and the Hemmes family wealth is reported near $1.58 billion according to The Australian Financial Review’s 2025 Rich List.
The $18 million Byron Bay residence is a two-story structure perched on a dune, featuring two self-contained studios on the ground floor and a two-bedroom unit above. The listing carried a “sold” tag and reflected a private sale, with settlement still to occur before price and buyer identity are officially confirmed.
The listing was handled by Denzil Lloyd and Will Phillips of Sotheby’s International Realty Byron Bay, who declined to comment on the sale or buyer. Other local sources confirmed Hemmes as the buyer, while Hemmes’ publicist did not respond at press time.
What this signals: given the dune-top site and current zoning considerations, there’s speculation Hemmes may demolish the existing structures to create a new dream home, rather than pursuing a commercial development on that particular stretch. Nearby, the neighborhood already hosts notable residents, including Darren Palmer (of The Block) and his husband Olivier Duvillard, who recently bought a $4.2 million cottage overlooking Belongil Creek.
Hemmes’ broader portfolio isn’t limited to Byron Bay’s coast—he also owns a $100 million heritage residence in Sydney’s Vaucluse and a $6.7 million weekend retreat in Narooma on the South Coast.
Controversy worth noting: should a high-profile investor continue to amass rare beachfront assets in coveted markets, or should there be greater safeguards around such acquisitions to protect local communities and housing affordability? What’s your take: does this kind of accumulation help the local economy through investment and development, or does it edge out long-time residents and raise prices beyond reach for locals?
