Elements of Byron Welcomes First Guests
- Written by Lauren Zoneff
Byron Bay's first world-class beachfront resort, Elements of Byron, is officially open. The resort is the 11th property across Australia and New Zealand to join AccorHotels' boutique MGallery Collection of memorable hotels, under a franchise agreement.
Situated on 50 acres, encompassing almost two kilometres of absolute beach frontage on Belongi Beach, Elements of Byron brings barefoot luxury to Byron Bay.
Three separate pavilions make up the central resort and leisure facilities, featuring a signature restaurant and lobby bar, poolside bar and kiosk, gymnasium and five suite garden spa. Weaving throughout the resort is a luxurious infinity lagoon pool precinct, complete with a communal sunken fire pit. Feminine, organic materials and soft furnishings have been used to evoke relaxation and connection to the elements throughout the resort.
Chief Operating Officer AccorHotels Pacific, Simon McGrath, said “We congratulate the owners and hotel team on opening this exceptional world-class resort. AccorHotels welcomes this latest addition to our boutique MGallery Collection and franchise hotel network which is set to delight guests with its unsurpassed beachfront locale whilst showcasing the very best of the Byron Bay region.”
Development of the $100 million dollar “slow architectural” resort has been lovingly tended throughout by owner Peggy Flannery. Design was driven by reverence to the four landscape ecologies present on the site - rainforest, dunal, eucalypt and wetland. Specific native landscaping, furnishings and colour palettes reflect the ecology or landscape in which each particular villa sits.
Leon Pink, General Manager Elements of Byron said, “Being privately owned by a couple who are passionate about the site, let alone the resort crafted within it, helps a lot. Nothing was compromised. I've never really experienced another similar situation.”
The 94 villas (a further 96 will be built in Stage 2) represent a softer tribute to the four unique ecologies present across the site. Every aspect of design and landscaping, down to the colours, furnishings and subtle signage reflect and celebrate the dunal, rainforest, eucalypt and wetland themes.
Among the artworks commissioned are a suite of paintings in oil, pigment and charcoal on jute by renowned Byron artist Noel Hart celebrating these ecologies. Hart has also contributed the feature work for the reception area – five asymmetrical blown glass forms depicting five Australian Black Cockatoo species, including the locally critically endangered Coastal Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo.
Graze at Elements is also now open, an all-day, produce-first dining option, along with Drift Bar and Barefoot Bar and Kiosk. Elements of Byron's signature dining experience, Mixed Dozen Restaurant is scheduled to open over the next few months, as well as a private Beach Club. Scheduled to open mid-year is a fully refurbished 100-seat two carriage heritage train which will run between the resort and the Byron Bay township, a journey of 3km.
Elements of Byron also offers state of the art conferencing facilities, catering up to 450 delegates.
Visit mgallery.com or elementsofbyron.com.au
MGallery - charming boutique hotels, inspiring & singular
MGallery is an intimate collection of 75 boutique hotels. Charming and genuine hotels with their own thoughtful stories, MGallery has that 'je ne sais quoi' that goes hand-in-hand with French 'art de recevoir'. MGallery appeals to engaged explorers who are clued in to travel and seek out the unbeaten path, fuelled by passion, curiosity and an interest in the world around them. Each hotel in the collection is noted for its unique personality, cocooning facilities and inviting local flavour, in more than 20 countries including France, Italy, Morocco, Argentina, Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia. mgallery.com