ONCE THE sea-change capital of Australia with its lush hinterlands offering the nation’s top green change, Byron Bay is now attracting a whole new swathe of newcomers – the dream-changers.
“For many people today, Byron has become the ultimate dream change,” says relocation expert Jill Weeks of Lifestyle Matters. “It’s a place that people, and especially the Baby Boomers, really aspire to, especially if they can afford it.
“Everyone is so busy and hurried these days, I hear that ‘L’ word – lifestyle – come up time and time again, with people deciding to take time out in Byron, go and live there and work remotely, buy and plan to retire there later, or downsize and go there now.”
That’s borne out by the experience of real estate agent Nicolette van Wijngaarden, of Unique Estates. Over the Easter long weekend and its Byron Bay Bluesfest, she was deluged with visitors all inquiring about buying property either near the beach or beyond, in the hinterland.
They were a mix of people, mostly from Sydney and Melbourne with a few from Brisbane, all aged 40-plus. Some were looking for holiday homes planning to relocate there on retirement, others were seeking a complete lifestyle change, knowing they could work from home anywhere, and then there were the traditional empty-nester retirees.
“It was just unbelievable how many people we had looking at properties over that weekend, and ever since,” says van Wijngaarden. “I think the area has such a festive vibe at this time of year and it always feels so relaxing and looks so beautiful. There are also some stunning properties on the market at the moment, too.”