Tallowood Ridge Estate in Mullumbimby is tackling head on the affordable housing crisis
which envelops the loved-up Byron shire, releasing a range of country style homes which allow both house and land to be purchased for under $300,000.
Mullumbimby’s thriving music, café and alternative lifestyle scene have seen many make the tree change from Byron Shire’s coastal areas to the picturesque town, which lies twenty minutes inland from Byron and ten minutes inland from Brunswick Heads. Celebrated jeweller Victoria Spring has been a “Mullum” identity for some time. Comedian Mandy Nolan, Rainforest Rescue CEO Kelvin Davies and Producer of wildly successful childrens’ fairytale The Grimstones Roe Ritchie have all purchased in Mullumbimby’s Tallowood Ridge Estate, which offers the region’s first NBN coverage.
“The marketplace in Byron Shire is reserved for the well-heeled” said Rose Wanchap of Byron Bay’s Red Rose Realty. “Many of our workers live outside Shire because they can’t afford to rent and they can’t afford to buy. For the first time, I see light at the end of the tunnel with Tallowood Ridge. They’re really nice homes and, for the first time, they are genuinely affordable”.
While the median house price in Mullumbimby still sits at around $500,000.00, Tallowood Ridge is challenging these prices with its new release.
“We’ve had a lot of requests for home designs that reflect the heritage and rural character of our area” said Christopher Dean, one of Tallowood’s Directors. Chris is perhaps best known for Thursday Plantation, Australia’s iconic tea-tree business which he founded in 1979. Chris sold the business, which by this time had become TP Health, to Thompsons in 2006.
“We’ve come up with a range of six homes, priced from $110,000 for the two bedroom Coolamon 95 to $198,400 for the three bedroom, two bathroom Summerland 172 with its spacious wrap-around covered decks.”
Land at Tallowood Ridge is priced from $181,000 for a 493m² block. “So now it’s possible to own your own home in the Byron shire for $291,000” said Chris. “Each lot offers plenty of room for a pool, bedroom extension or granny flat. New granny flat laws in NSW, coupled with the new first new home owners grant, make buying land as opposed to an existing home the smart choice”.
To add to the incentives, agent Rose Wanchap has pledged to forego her commission, giving it instead back to new owners to put toward their homes, for those who would otherwise not be able to afford home ownership. Further, Tallowood Ridge will accept deposits of only 5%.
A lot of effort has gone into ensuring that the country home range reflects ‘rural Byron’, according to Christopher Dean. “The weatherboard exterior, sturdy posts on the verandas, white trims to corners and windows, classic handrails, round gutters instead of modern square gutters, colourbond roof at “Queenslander” pitch, double-hung windows – all of these things together make up the country style” he said.
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer a high quality weatherboard and colourbond home on land in the Byron Shire for well under $300,000”.
To view the full range of homes visit www.tallowoodridge.com
Downloadable high res images:
Photo #1 – Summerland 128
Photo #2 – Tallowood Ridge Estate, Mullumbimby NSW
Photo #3 – Brunswick 110
Photo #4 – Bangalow 132
Photo #5 – Coolamon 95