One of Byron Bay’s most impressive homes has hit the market… and it’s priced at a cool $37 million.
The palatial five-bedroom, six-bathroom home is located on stunning Belongil Beach, known for its ‘clothing optional’ pocket and dog-friendly community.
The property at 8 Border Street Byron Bay took three years to build after developer Shane Smollen managed to purchase three plots of land on the coast.
Those final titles were the last three belonging to John Cornell and Delvene Delaney of The Paul Hogan Show fame.
As soon as he saw them available he knew he had to act.
The mansion was initially built as a holiday home, taking full advantage of its beachside location whilst remaining private behind a lush ‘jungle’.
Smollen and his family moved into the house in April 2023, but have since put it up for sale.
The palatial abode, nicknamed ‘Malia’, has been described as a ‘contemporary masterpiece’ and is certainly unique.
This palatial home on Belongil Beach in Byron has gone up for sale
The house is ultra private from the front.
But behind the walls there is a luxurious escape.
“This private paradise, the recent result of four years of meticulous planning and masterful craftsmanship, has been ingeniously designed to embrace its exceptional natural surroundings,” the sale announcement says.
The house looks like something you would find in the Mediterranean, but doesn’t feel out of place in Australia either.
From the front, the property appears elegant and avant-garde, but is built with privacy in mind, beautifully disguising the interior luxury.
From the rear garden you can see the stunning open plan swimming pool and entertainment area which looks like the perfect space for a party.
A slight landscaped path winds through the bush to Belongil Beach, which extends as far south as Byron Bay.
A staircase takes you to the corner of the house where there is a second dining room and bar overlooking the ocean, where whales and dolphins can often be seen. playing in the waves.
The outdoor living areas flow seamlessly into the living and dining rooms inside the home.
The living room areas flow from the inside to the outside.
The kitchen area flows into the barbecue area, with all the dirty appliances hidden in the pantry.
A sunroom creates a comfortable sanctuary off the open plan areas.
The huge space is divided by roll-up doors that can be hidden completely out of sight.
The kitchen, which features a huge dolomite island bench, looks like another living room with all the appliances hidden away.
A second lounge is tucked away behind the kitchen, making it a cozy little nook for people to relax out of sight of the main entertainment quarter.
The first bedroom is larger than many apartments in Sydney measuring 4.3 by 12 metres. The master bedroom wing features a huge bathroom and a 10-by-9-foot “dehumidified” walk-in closet.
The second bedroom is still large by modern standards, measuring 4.4 by 4.3 meters and also featuring an ensuite bathroom. It has stairs leading to a long and narrow “loft area”.
The third bedroom is again a little smaller, but also has a large bathroom, while the fourth bedroom is attached as part of the “nanny’s room”.
These rooms feature a kitchenette, private terrace and bathroom, as well as a private entrance and back entrance to the house.
Then there is the guest house, which is hidden behind the nanny’s room and accessed by stone steps over a water feature.
The guest house also has a private bathroom and kitchen.
The bedrooms and bathrooms have luxury fixtures.
There is also a movie theater.
There are six bathrooms in the house, all clad in marble and luxury fixtures.
Hidden behind the bedrooms is a home theater room that offers the complete cinema experience at home.
There is a gym next to the garage and a bar in the living room that can be conveniently hidden away. The house also has a pool and spa.
The stunning space was posted on Instagram by the million dollar listing page and was immediately huge.
The upper deck is the perfect place for whale watching.
The house is spread over three titles and includes 30 meters of quiet beachfront access.
“The house is perfection, the best street in Byron Bay,” said one woman.
Others described the property as “immaculate.”
“I love this build, it’s so unique,” said another.
“Amazing build, amazing location, amazing house,” added a third.