Construction begins on historic Byron Bay site

CONSTRUCTION has officially started on the Secret Garden Residences in the Byron Town Centre, located at 119-123 Jonson Street.

The residences are set to transform the historic preschool site into a vibrant new community space, blending residential, commercial, and public areas in the heart of Byron Bay.

Arakwal woman Nickolla Clark welcomed the guests to Country at the sod turning ceremony on Wednesday this week.

Byron Shire mayor Michael Lyon, who turned the first sod, said the project would improve the streetscape.

“The people behind this project won best boutique development in Australia this year for their Jonson Lane project.

“Based on Council’s work with this developer to date, we will see a significant improvement in the streetscape as well as new public spaces.”

Key figures attended, including Ann McCabe and Ann Tierny, both former Directors of the preschool that operated on the site for nearly 40 years.

Members of the Anglican Diocese, who owned the site for over a century and continue to be neighbours, were also present.

The Secret Garden Residences, a project by JD Property Group, will feature 22 homes, a public courtyard spanning 869sqm, and commercial and retail tenancies at street level.

The construction, being managed by Cobild, is expected to take 18 months.

Notably, the built form at the corner will be set back to preserve an existing melaleuca tree.

“We are really excited to be at this point,” developer Jason Dunn from JD Property Group said.

Mr Dunn, who has a personal connection to the site, having attended preschool there and later volunteered at the Anglican op shop when it was located on the site, expressed gratitude to the Anglican Church and the neighbours for their support on the development.

“I’m grateful to the Anglican Church for putting their faith in me to deliver a beautiful project that will add to the streetscape,” he said.

And I’m grateful to them and the other neighbours, some of whom are here today, who have worked with us on our journey to get to this point.”