How Hyams Happened

Why we chose it, what we saw, and what we’re creating

Hyams Beach has been on our wish list for years. Honestly, close to ten.

We tried to buy here about five years ago and failed. And the funniest part? The house we tried to buy was next door to the one we finally ended up with. Like… come on.

We thought that deal was in the bag. The banks were all a go, everything looked sorted, and then at the last second, they suddenly got confused. It was a business deal for us, but we were buying in our personal names, and it just spiralled. Our mortgage broker was in disbelief. It wasn’t one of those normal “oh it didn’t work out” situations. It was a full shock.

It all fell through, and we lost a bit of money too, which is never a nice feeling. It was such a blow.

So, after that, we did what we’ve always done with Hyams. We kept coming back. We’d stay at Airbnbs maybe twice a year, get our hit of the clearest water you’ve ever seen, and then return to the mountains having got our saltwater fix.

Hyams was always the “one day” place.

The timing finally lined up

When we sold Kanimbla, I was finally in a position to buy. And 1 Tulip Street had been sitting on the market for a long time. It had gone stale. The price started too high for what it was and, after what felt like forever, the owner was ready to move on.

So we made an offer, had a little back and forth, and ended up with our own pad.

I still can’t believe it sometimes.

Why this spot

It’s in my opinion the best part of Hyams. Down the Chinaman’s Beach end (and yes, I’m not sure it should still be called that, but that’s another conversation for another time).

This end is quieter, away from the endless crowds the other end attracts, and we were instantly drawn to that.

We’ve got the national park out on the left, and the beach is about 150 metres away. At night you can sit by the fire and hear the waves. It’s seriously my happy place.

The practical reason (because I can’t ignore it)

There are so many Airbnb rules around Australia now. 90 day caps here, 180 day caps there.

Jervis Bay is still 365 days, which is huge for us. We’ve moved away from Mt Kanimbla which was an approved tourism cabin business, and back into Airbnb homes, which can feel a bit risky because rules change.

But we love this area so much that it was a no brainer.

What we’re creating

I’m creating a little sanctuary here.

A couple’s retreat. Stylish, romantic, photo worthy, and calm. The kind of place you arrive at and immediately slow down. No fuss. No weird energy. Just that feeling of being exactly where you’re meant to be.

And honestly, in a location like this, the hard part of marketing is done for me. Hyams doesn’t need an introduction. It’s one of Australia’s most famous beaches. If the stay is beautiful and the experience is right, it’s an easy sell.

So that’s how Hyams happened. Ten years of dreaming, one big, failed attempt, years of coming back anyway… and then finally, the right timing, the right house, and the right moment to make it ours.