The normally relaxed Northern Rivers town of Byron Bay has been shaken after masked, knife-wielding intruders allegedly broke into Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth’s sprawling concrete home during the night.
Police were called to the property at Broken Head, south of Byron Bay, at about 7.30am on Wednesday after receiving reports that a vehicle had been stolen.
Sources close to Hemsworth said his wife, Spanish actress Elsa Pataky, was woken by barking dogs at around 2am while the family slept inside the home.
However, it was not until the following morning, when the mother-of-three reviewed the property’s CCTV footage, that she realised the family had allegedly been targeted by intruders.
The footage reportedly showed four balaclava-clad men inside the property. Two were allegedly carrying knives.
Pataky and Hemsworth then contacted police.
Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth contacted police after thieves allegedly entered their property and stole three luxury vehicles
The couple bought the original 4.2-hectare ‘Kooeloah’ resort property for $7 million in 2014 before transforming it into an eco-luxury compound featuring a 50-metre rooftop infinity pool, six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a gym, spa and media room
Police are pictured on the beach in Byron Bay
“Officers attended and were told four unknown people had entered the property and stole three vehicles earlier that day,” NSW Police said.
“No injuries were reported.”
The offenders reportedly climbed over the secluded rainforest estate’s front fence before entering a garage where the vehicles had been left with their keys inside.
The stolen vehicles were a BYD, a Ram and a Ford Ranger Raptor.
Two have since been found abandoned at Coraki, about an hour’s drive from the property, and Tabulam, more than two hours away.
Police are still searching for the third vehicle as the investigation continues.
People familiar with the Hemsworth compound said its security and surveillance equipment was regarded as state of the art. They suspect the offenders may have discovered a blind spot that allowed them to enter the expansive property.
The couple purchased the original 4.2-hectare ‘Kooeloah’ resort property for $7 million in 2014.
Byron Bay has faced a serious homelessness problem in recent years. This file image was taken during a 2016 assignment, and the people shown are not accused of wrongdoing
For some long-term residents, the rise in break-ins is less surprising than it is another sign of a region struggling to balance its bohemian past with its increasingly affluent present
They later demolished the former Balinese-style resort and replaced it with an extensive eco-luxury compound, including a 50-metre rooftop infinity pool, six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a gym, spa and media room.
Construction costs have previously been estimated at about $30 million. The property is now believed to be worth an estimated $50 million, with amenities befitting the celebrity couple.
Hemsworth and Pataky moved to the Byron Bay region with their three children more than a decade ago, joining an influx of wealthy newcomers drawn to the area’s beaches and expansive hinterland properties.
Their high-profile neighbours include tech millionaire and PageUp founder Karen Cariss, who bought her own property in the region for a reported $36 million last year.
Other notable residents include Hemsworth’s actor brothers Luke and Liam, former media executive Antony Catalano and his wife Stefanie, actress Madeleine West and The Mentalist star Simon Baker.
Yet behind Byron Bay’s glossy image as a retreat for Hollywood stars and wealthy business figures, locals say the region is facing a much less glamorous reality.
The town, once closely associated with its laid-back hippie culture, has become increasingly divided as soaring property prices force many long-term residents to leave.
Byron Shire also has one of Australia’s most severe homelessness problems. The region has reportedly recorded the country’s second-largest homeless population, with around 12 times more rough sleepers than the average town.
That figure comes despite a significant proportion of homes being listed as unoccupied in the latest census.
Concerned residents have also warned about the growing presence of hard drugs, including ice, and the violence they say has accompanied the region’s transient population.
Vehicle theft has become another concern, with residents reporting multiple car thefts in nearby Bangalow and Coopers Shoot during the past three weeks.
Last month, The Northern Rivers Times reported that teenagers had been charged with more than 150 offences under NSW Police’s Operation Setaria. The charges were linked to a multi-town North Coast crime spree involving aggravated break-ins and stolen vehicles.
For some long-term residents, the rise in break-ins and fears of a ‘bling ring’ targeting celebrities’ homes and cars point to a region caught between its bohemian roots and growing affluence.
Although Byron Bay’s image as a slice of paradise remains intact, with stars including Zac Efron and Matt Damon having lived there in recent years, the area has long carried a darker reputation.
For decades, rumours of a possible serial killer operating in the region have persisted. Disappearances, suspicious deaths and violent attacks reported over the past 50 years have fuelled the speculation.
The disappearance of Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez in May 2019 continues to haunt the town and remains an unsolved tragedy.
The 18-year-old was last seen on CCTV leaving Byron Bay’s Cheeky Monkeys nightclub. He appeared to be looking down at his phone as he walked along the road.
Despite an extensive search, during which his family travelled from Brussels to Australia to assist, Theo’s disappearance has never been solved.
In an unsettling development, an anonymous tip submitted in 2021 to a website created to help locate Hayez led a private investigator to a dilapidated squatter’s property in nearby Nimbin.
Investigators discovered personal belongings belonging to local woman Thea Liddle inside the property. Her skeletal remains had been found almost a year earlier.
The circumstances surrounding Liddle’s death remain unknown.