The rumours about Merivale purchasing the former Woolworths premises in Byron Bay for a large hospitality development have proven to be untrue. The site which was offered for sale in an international sale process in conjunction with the adjacent Mercato Shopping Centre, has been confirmed as sold to a syndicate of private property investors in a transaction exchanged last week, by selling agents JLL.

Rumours started to spread when Justin Hemmes was seen in Byron and numerous stories have appeared in recent months purporting his interest in the Bangalow Hotel and more recently, his purchase of the former Woolworths site, which selling agents, close sources and owners all confirmed as false.

“It’s not the first time that some of the less reliable industry media sources choose to run with secondhand stories without proper fact checking or asking the key proponents, it makes for a good headline”, a selling representative said.

The continued elevation of Byron Bay’s global prominence and exploding holiday and recreational demand for the township, is set to see an imminent spate of quality development along the identified Jonson Street key commercial artery. Council and regulators have carefully curated appropriate guidelines and precincts for future mixed-use development with the recent release of the proposed amendments to the LEP and DCP set to facilitate a growth in the town’s permanent residential population and a proliferation of retail opportunities.

Byron holds a revered place in the hospitality industry not only for housing an unique breadth of entertainment, dining, hospitality and lodging experiences but also as the birthplace of icons like Stone & Wood Brewery and Cape Byron Distillery with Brookies Gin and their rapidly emerging range of spirits.

As one local put it, “These certainly are very exciting times for Byron Bay and the measured growth of the town”.

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