Birdy Catalano and Jordy Catalano at The Bonobo by Raes Byron Bay opening. Picture: Portia Large.
The Catalano clan has opened the doors of Bonobo by Raes, their new hotel and apartment precinct in the heart of Byron Bay, with recent strata settlements revealing a who’s who of interconnected wealthy buyers.
AD Group property website co-founder, Tom Hywood has bought into the complex for $2.4m in partnership with his parents, one-time Fairfax Media chief Greg Hywood and acclaimed author Kate Legge.
Tom Hywood co-founded an off the plan apartment website in 2014 with Jordy Catalano, the son of longtime property media entrepreneur, Antony Catalano.
These days Jordy Catalano heads Rae’s hotel management.
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Interior decorator Birdy Catalano recently unveiled the completed decor.
The Bonobo by Raes has 41 one-to-four room apartments and 33 hotel rooms.
Jordy’s sister, interior decorator Birdy Catalano recently unveiled the completed decor for the project that brings the Rae’s brand from Wategos Beach to the centre of town on Jonson St.
Developed by Sydney developer Michael Grassi’s Podia with joint venture partner Centennial Property, it has 41 one-to-four room apartments and 33 hotel rooms.
The 4287sq m site was acquired in 2021 for $18.55m during pandemic lockdowns.
There were numerous interstate buyers including Brisbane lawyer Joe Welch, the Melbourne-based employment executive Jason Lenga, and Adelaide’s Donje Falzon, wife of John Falzon, founder of landfill biogas company LMS Energy.
The site was acquired for $18.55m during the pandemic lockdowns in 2021.
Weekend rates this winter start at $370 per night for the one-bedroom apartments.
Robbie Cooke, the former Star Casino chief, paid $3.085m for his purchase, using Keystone Capital for his financing.
The project was initially launched with 2023 completion hopes, as The Barbotine, before Raes jumped on board, replacing Jeremy & Jones.
The initial pricing was from $1.85m to $3.65m, which reflected record prices per square metre in the town.
Designed by Richards & Spence, the architects of Brisbane’s acclaimed venue The Calile Hotel, the development was pitched to prospective buyers as having hotel-style apartments with projected gross rental yields of over 6 per cent.
Weekend rates this winter start from around $370 a night for the one-bedroom apartments.
The low-rise building features dining lounge, rooftop pool and wellness facilities.
It had been backpackers premises for the past four decades.
The 200-bed premises were run by the Walker family, in what was considered Australia’s first custom built backpacker premises.
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