As multimillion dollar developments continue popping up across Byron Bay, locals are left divided over the ‘new and improved’ town.

Graffiti on a billboard for the $200 million Bohemian project in the centre of town makes clear some of the sentiments brewing about the changing face of what was once a haven for blissed-out hippies and nomadic surfers.

The New South Wales beach town has dramatically transformed over the past few decades, with the addition of multi-million-dollar mansions and chic commercial developments, like the latest Jonson Lane shopping precinct.

Tourism is one of the main streams of income for Byron Bay. Picture: Getty

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A recent feature in Traveller magazine mourned the loss of "a coastal paradise" to the rich, famous and powerful, declaring: "It's crowded. It's popular. It's gone all gourmet. It's turned expensive and exclusive."

Even British broadsheet The Times noted that Byron has lost some of its "hippy heyday charm" thanks to the arrival of the well-heeled, who've sparked a property price boom and a flurry of development.

The influx of big city money has also out-priced many locals from the area and prompted Byron Shire Council to declare a "housing emergency" back in March 2021.

There's no denying that Byron is changing – but not everyone is unhappy about it.

Graffiti on the billboard for multimillion dollar development Bohemian expresses what some locals feel about Byron changing.

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Embracing the 'new Byron'

Mitch Van has been a Byron Bay local for more than 30 years and grew up in the town, and while he's seen it undergo massive change, he believes it's for the better.

"I like the fact that I now have more of a culinary experience when I go out," Mr Van said.

"I like the fact that there are new things happening and it's not always the same, and I think that's exactly what Byron embodies – that ability to have new exciting things occurring and have change happening."

He remembers the feeling of the town being very different when he was growing up, when the hippie and surf cultures were dominant.

One thing that hasn’t changed though is the protests that come with a new development.

"I remember when the Aldi building was built, and it's got that Rapunzel tower, and I remember there being 100 concrete trucks lining up to get into the pour site and there was a backlash, even for that site in itself.

"And I get it, people would see it as this beautiful coastal town disappearing, which is sad, but there's also a certain level of things that have to occur to be able to keep everything moving forward."

Jonson Lane is the latest addition to Jonson Street in Byron's CBD. Picture: realestate.com.au

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Tourism both a blessing and a curse

Some locals pin responsibility for Byron Bay's dramatic facelift on the rapid expansion of tourism, which has attracted cashed-up travellers to town.

Others look at those visitors as an essential part of the region's economy.

Colin Hussey, who is the director of short-term holiday letting site A Perfect Stay, has lived in Byron for 20 years. Mr Hussey explained the town's main revenue comes from tourism, which was a deliberate decision by government.

"After Meatworks [the town's abattoir] shut down in the 1980s, it had a huge impact on the economy as a lot of families had to leave," he recalled.

"The council got together to work out a way for the town to make money and they said, 'well what about tourism?' so they changed their local environment plan to incorporate that.

"Now, there's about 2.2 million people who visit Byron annually, and this was prior to the pandemic. The split was about a million for day trippers and about a million for overnighters, and about 200,000 international overnighters... that's a lot of money coming into the area."

Local real estate agent Frank Milkota said the original Byron Bay flavour is still there. Picture: Getty

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Mr Van said that it's tourism that has always made the town an exciting place to be.

"I remember growing up, you had your locals – you know, the people that have been here forever – and then you had a massive amount of tourism that was always from overseas. It was Brazilians, Spanish, English – now it's more domestic tourists.

"I've loved how every weekend there's always different people around and people that are always on holidays are normally generally happy. So, it brought this like really beautiful, happy vibe to the place."

Is the old Byron flavour still there?

As the shiny new architecturally designed buildings pop up across the CBD and influencers snap selfies from The Balcony, there are still signs of the old Byron shining through.

At Sharky’s Tattoo parlour, Schoolies reverllers have been leaving inked and gladwrapped for years, while the now grey-haired hippies hang out at Railways Park, reminiscing about partying at Nimbin’s Aquarius Festival in 1973.

Frank Milkota has been working in the Byron Bay property market for the past 20 years and is one of the stars of the new Channel 9 show Dream Listings Byron Bay.

He has quickly become recognised nationally as the barefoot long-haired realtor.

Mr Milkota said despite its changes in Byron, with more multimillion dollar homes now than the classic quintessential beach shacks, the town still has its original charm.

“It’s grown up and become more sophisticated," he said. "I mean, it used to be loggers and whalers, then it became the place for surfers and hippies, and then a place for people to have a holiday home.

“But 100%, the Byron flavour is still there. The local people here are just mums and dads with kids going to local primary schools… it’s still a small country town in a lot of ways."

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While many locals say the town is going through the biggest transition now, Mr Milkota said he saw a bigger shift in the 90s.

“A lot of people moved out of here about 15 years ago and said to me: ‘Frank I need you to sell my house – I'm out of here it’s changed too much.'

“Byron Bay is now on the world map – so yeah, it’s become a lot more expensive than it was a few years ago. The people who are moving here now expect better service, better things in general.”