The Hemsworth’s Byron Bay takeover: Chris, Liam and Luke own 220 hectares of land worth $100m 

The Hemsworth brothers are quietly snapping up large parcels of land around the picturesque NSW north coast town of Byron Bay. 

Chris, 38, Liam, 32, and Luke’s, 38, total investment in the popular region is estimated to be worth over $100million and sitting on 220 hectares – and their portfolio just keeps on growing.

The celebrity family’s purchases have been blamed for sparking soaring house prices in the area – however a Byron Bay real estate agent has rejected that claim. 

Thor star Chris and his wife, Elsa Pataky, are the leading land owners, starting with their mega mansion. 

After buying his Byron Bay family home for $7million back in 2014, Chris, 37, transformed the sprawling property into a compound that has been valued at between $30million and $60million.

The actor carried out extensive renovations on the six-bedroom home, and it now boasts a steam room, gym, media room and games room.

There’s also a stunning outdoor living area, play areas for his three young kids and a 50-metre rooftop infinity pool, which overlooks the ocean.

Chris and his family began construction on the mansion, which was previously an eight-bedroom resort-style home known as Kooeloah, in late 2017.

Angry neighbours were quick to say the rebuild reminded them of a suburban shopping centre, a refurbished RSL club or a regional airport terminal.

Others compared the home, which is said to sit on over 100 hectares, to a multi-storey car park and a ‘McMansion’.

The couple also own a Broken Head horse ranch and retreat, purchased in 2019 for $4.25million, with an estimated value of $10million now. 

Sitting on 35 hectares, it was developed to include a state-of-the-art horse stables and dressage, show jumping and horse exercise arena.

There was also the development of a man-made swimming lake, complete with entertaining cabana, islands and even a water slide.  

Daily Mail Australia revealed in August that Chris and Elsa wanted to build a new seven-bedroom home – each with its own ensuite bathroom – less than a kilometre from their mega-mansion.

The new digs are expected cost the Hollywood power couple $4.4million to put into place on the site. 

But at the moment plans – for what is described as a ‘Westfield-style’ mansion – are awaiting building approvals. 

Chris’ little brother Liam put down a whopping $6.5million for a property in Newrybar, south of Byron Bay, in 2020.   

The Hollywood hunk owns the sprawling estate with five bedrooms and four bathrooms on the Newrybar plot.

The 3.87 hectare property has a house with two separate wings built around the swimming pool, tropical gardens and a lawn bowls area. 

In a May 2016 interview with GQ Australia, The Hunger Games star spoke about preferring a quiet lifestyle.

‘I grew up by the beach, surfing, and I’m much more conditioned to that sort of lifestyle… I wanted to get back to the beach, I needed it, to be by the water and to be able to go surfing,’ he said. 

Liam shares the hinterland property with his model girlfriend, Gabriella Brooks. 

Along with his brothers, Liam made a earlier Newrybar purchase in 2021, snapping up 37.5 hectares in the area for $6.8 million. 

The land features sweeping ocean views and sits on the Newrybar ridge line. 

The farmlet comes with a building block and last sold for $680,000 all the way back in 2001.

The property was toted by McGrath Real Estate as ‘the hinterland’s premier land opportunity boasting some of the best vistas in the Northern Rivers’.

‘This ultra-rare property is the perfect blank canvas to create your idyllic hinterland estate perched high on the escarpment above Byron Bay and Lennox Head and offering uninterrupted views,’ the agent added.   

The brothers made yet another Newrybar purchase in 2022, snapping up 44.5 hectares in the region. 

The property was settled for $10.5 million through a trust fronted by directors of the William Buck accountancy firm, reports Domain.  

The price for the land, situated opposite the other block Liam bought in 2021 was a record deal in the tiny town.

According to the report, Hemsworth corporate entities, including Chris and Liam’s company Corn Dog Pty Ltd, are based with William Buck. 

Meanwhile, eldest sibling Luke, 40, is planning to expand the family’s empire by upgrading his $4.3 million beachfront mansion in Suffolk Park, Byron Bay, according to Realestate.com.au. 

In September last year, The Westworld actor and wife Samantha lodged a development proposal to renovate their single-storey property into a two-storey home, a project estimated to cost $300,000. 

The couple are planning to spend around $233,000 on adding a second level and a 72sqm master bedroom overlooking the existing backyard swimming pool. 

The home currently has four bedrooms, two bedrooms and sits a stones throw away from the beach.

The property was transferred into Luke’s name last year, after it was purchased through the Hemsworths’ property management company two years prior.

Prior to Luke holding the keys, the Suffolk Park home was reportedly used by Chris and Elsa as a temporary home while they built their mega-mansion.

Last year the brothers’ combined property portfolio were being blamed for soaring house prices in Newrybar, 18km from Byron Bay, reports realestate.com.au. 

In one example, a 17-hectare farm near one of the Hemsworths’ homes recently sold for a record $8million. 

In what has been dubbed ‘The Hemsworth Effect’, the famous family have been pegged as one of the main reasons for Byron Bay becoming Australia’s most expensive housing market in 2021, and in turn a hotspot for the elite.   

However, a Byron Bay real estate agent who has sold homes to the Hemsworths and other celebrities insists Hollywood stars aren’t the ones driving up property prices in the trendy coastal town.

While frustrated locals blame a few high-profile residents for the influx of wannabe models and social media ‘influencers’ to the area in recent years, Peter Yopp of LJ Hooker Byron Bay says it’s not A-listers who are spending the most money.

Mr Yopp told Realestate.com.au earlier this year the soaring house and rent prices in Byron Bay were actually the result of the ‘secretly rich’ splashing the cash.

‘To be honest, the people with the real money look like they don’t have any money. You wouldn’t even know who they are,’ he said

Byron Bay has the fastest growing median property prices in the country, with prices skyrocketing from a median of $1.3 million to $2.7 million in the past year, according to realestate.com.au.

Source: | Dailymail.co.uk

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