My latest project is officially live, and the response has been pretty incredible.
Sirena Del Sol started as a 1970s beach house at Hyams Beach. I had a vision for what it could become, and after a renovation that went well over budget (as these things tend to do!), it’s now an adults-only, Mediterranean-inspired retreat on the NSW South Coast.
Since launching, we’ve been featured in Gourmet Traveller, Harper’s Bazaar and Australian Traveller, with Gourmet Traveller naming Sirena Del Sol among its top 10 places to stay on the South Coast. We’re also already mostly booked over Christmas, which is a pretty good start.
Building it, growing it, selling it
Before accommodation, I spent around 20 years working as a professional photographer, creating imagery for different brands and building sets around their products. Every brief was different, and I think that experience still influences how I approach property today. I love creating something distinctive that feels right for its location, rather than repeating the same look everywhere.
Over the years, I’ve discovered that I love the whole process of building an accommodation business. The design, the styling, the photography, the marketing and, just as importantly, creating a business that actually works.
Last year, I sold Mt Kanimbla Retreats after four years of transforming the business. It was my first big project to go through the entire cycle, from taking it on to eventually selling it, and it confirmed that this is something I want to keep doing.
I love the challenge of finding a property with potential, turning it into something special, building a successful business around it and then moving on to the next idea.
Sirena Del Sol is my next project to eventually sell.
A beachside escape for its next owner
I think Sirena Del Sol will be an incredible opportunity for someone wanting a coastal escape that also works as an accommodation investment.
We deliberately designed the accommodation around couples. This gives us a simpler operation, easier changeovers, less wear and tear and lower running costs than hosting larger groups. It also gives us the opportunity to attract couples throughout the year, rather than relying solely on family holidays.
But the clever part is how the house works for the owner, too.
The owner's bedroom and downstairs media room are locked off when guests book, giving the owner their own private space. When you want to enjoy the property yourself, you can open up the entire house and bring the family or friends along.
And what a place to escape to.
The water at Hyams Beach is honestly ridiculous. Some of the most beautiful blue water in Australia. With the Mediterranean-inspired interiors, you could almost convince yourself you were somewhere overseas.
It’s the sort of place you could head to for a few nights, switch off and enjoy that beachside lifestyle, while having an established accommodation business to return to.
The renovation is complete, the accommodation is live, the brand is established and the business is up and running. The next owner won't need to start from scratch or take on a major renovation. They can step into an existing operation and continue building on what’s already there.
For someone looking to add a distinctive coastal property and an operating accommodation business to their portfolio, I think it offers a great combination of lifestyle and opportunity.
So, when will I sell?
I’m not in a rush just yet. I’d like to spend the next couple of years growing the business and seeing what it can achieve, with 2028 being my ideal timeframe to consider a sale.
Of course, if the right offer came along earlier, I’d be open to a conversation. An offer above $3.2 million is the point at which I’d seriously consider selling ahead of schedule. I’m not actively putting the property on the market at this stage, but I’m open to hearing from the right buyer.
Until then, you’ll probably find me going back and forth to Hyams Beach and enjoying the place myself. It’s a pretty special spot to escape to, and I’m certainly not complaining about having an excuse to spend more time there!
For now, my focus is on growing Sirena Del Sol into the business I know it can be. And when the time is right, I’ll be ready to hand it over to its next owner and start thinking about the next adventure.
If you’d like to see Sirena Del Sol for yourself, you can find it here
