Latest news with #ByronBay
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Gage Wilson vanished from his Mullumbimby home at dawn. Search parties found his ute crashed into a tree - but no trace of him. Now his heartbroken family has a chilling theory about his mysterious fate
A grieving family is demanding answers one year on from the mysterious death of Gage Wilson whose body was found almost three months after he suddenly vanished. Mr Wilson, 31, was last seen at his Mullumbimby home in far northern NSW about 5am on May 18, 2024. His abandoned white ute was later found crashed into a tree on Koonyum Range Road in Wilsons Creek, less than 10km away in the Byron Bay hinterland. Family, friends and the local community searched for three months until Mr Wilson's remains were found on August 4 at an abandoned property 1km from the ute crash. Almost one year on, the circumstances of his death still remain shrouded in mystery. Now his sister Niki Manidakis has broken her silence to reveal her sinister fear that Mr Wilson was brutally murdered. On the eve of the first anniversary of his body being found, the family has now been told an inquest into his death will be held in the coming months. But Ms Manidakis is adamant her brother met with foul play, and insisted: 'This doesn't feel like a tragic accident - this feels deliberate and staged.' 'I have no doubt in my mind that Gage was murdered,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I can't say more than that right now out of respect for the coronial process, however I believe the truth will come out. 'I think the question we keep coming back to is: Why wasn't more done? Why hasn't Gage's case received the urgency and attention it deserved from the start? 'There are pieces of this that don't make sense and until we have answers, we're left questioning everything.' Within the first two days of the hunt for Mr Wilson, police found his clothing, but no other trace of him. The family then coordinated searches, organised volunteers, chased leads and raised awareness until their worst fears were realised three months later. Ms Manidakis spent weeks spearheading the search while pregnant with her fourth child. 'Instead of being able to rest or grieve, I found myself desperately searching for my brother alongside my family,' she said. 'This meant the responsibility fell entirely on us. Our persistence and hard work - not the police - led to Gage being found. 'We had to organise volunteers, coordinate mapping, spread awareness, chase leads, all while in survival mode.' Gage's death rocked the entire family, she said. 'Emotionally, we're still in limbo. There's trauma, a million unanswered questions, and a deep sadness that's settled into everything,' Ms Manidakis said. 'It's not something you ever truly recover from.' She is hopeful that a new public appeal and the upcoming inquest will finally shed some light of the tragic mystery. 'Our family needs closure, and Gage deserves justice,' she said, ahead of National Missing Persons Week which coincides with the anniversary of the discovery of his remains. 'The community deserves to feel protected and to trust that if someone they love goes missing, their case will be taken seriously. 'Gage wasn't just a name on a list. He was a person, a son, a brother, an uncle, a cousin, a grandchild and he mattered.' Ms Manidakis has now launched renewed appeals on social media for information about her brother's death. 'Nothing about what happened makes any sense,' she posted. 'His body was found in a place that had already been searched. 'To date, police have not said they've ruled out foul play, and neither can we.' Ms Manidakis also listed the names of dozens of men who vanished or died in similar circumstances in the Byron Bay region since 2019. Mr Wilson disappeared almost five years to the day after Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez, 18, who vanished after leaving Cheeky Monkeys bar in Byron Bay on May 31, 2019. His remains have never been found. 'This isn't over and I won't stop,' Ms Manidakis added. NSW Police was unable to comment on whether foul play had been ruled out. 'As the matter is before the coroner, no further comment can be made regarding the investigation,' a spokesman said. 'The officer in charge of the investigation continues to offer assistance to the family.' Ms Manidakis urged anyone with information to come forward. 'If you know something but you're scared to come forward, I understand. But this is bigger than fear,' she said. 'You don't have to be publicly involved. You can remain anonymous. Please contact me directly or speak to Crime Stoppers. 'Any piece of information, no matter how small, could help bring the truth to light.' A GoFundMe page set up for Mr Wilson at the time of his death described him as 'a unique individual with a wonderful, generous heart', leaving loved ones with 'profound disbelief and sorrow'. 'Gage was a gentle, free spirit, with a deep love for peace, nature, and humanity. We can only hope that his final moments were as serene as his soul,' it added. 'This is our worst nightmare, and our hearts ache for other families of missing loved ones in the Byron Shire area. We send our love and strength to those who are grieving alongside us.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
James Packer's ex Jodhi Meares reveals the real reason why she left Sydney for a new life in Byron Bay
Jodhi Meares has opened up about the reason she moved away from Sydney and found peace in the Northern Rivers. The former swimwear model turned fashion designer, who was famously married to Australian billionaire James Packer, had been living in Hawaii for ten years before deciding to make the move to Sydney to be closer to friends and family. However, the 54-year-old eventually decided that city life just wasn't for her. 'It's wonderful to go to events but I'm not a big party person, never have been,' she told Stellar Magazine, adding that fancy restaurants weren't her thing either. 'Sydney is the most beautiful city, and I love it, but for living, I don't find there's a lot for me to do there.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Jodhi decided to turn her back on the hustle and bustle of Sydney, selling her gorgeous harbourside pad in Sydney's eastern suburbs for a whopping $5.2million in February. Instead, the Tigerlily Swimwear founder has opted for a slower life on a piece of land just outside of Byron Bay, where she lives with her dog named Soda Pop and her five cows. 'I've called them the Ramoons, after [punk rock band] The Ramones,' she hilariously revealed, adding that their names are Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, Marky and Tommy, just like the band members. Jodhi famously married James Packer in 1999 before splitting from him in 2002. They tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Sydney, where around 750 guests attended and Elton John performed. The couple, who remained friends following the breakdown of their three-year marriage, are reportedly still close. A few years ago, Woman's Day reported that Packer still had Meares' number on 'speed dial' and 'called her all the time' when he needed support. More recently, the rarely-seen fashion designer was spotted spending Christmas and New Year's with her billionaire ex in Los Angeles in 2023. Rising to fame as a model, Jodhi cut a high profile in the three years she was married to the Australian billionaire. She founded Tigerlily Swimwear in 2000 before selling it to Billabong seven years later. Now, she has her own successful fashion brand called The Upside, which she began in 2014. The fashion designer has also been known to wheel and deal in property since separating from the mogul. She snapped up a luxury unit in Sydney's ritzy Point Piper in 2004 for $1.23million only to sell it for $2.4million in 2017.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Nicole Kidman's Nine Perfect Strangers mansion sells for record price in Byron Bay hinterland
A Byron Bay mansion featured in Nicole Kidman 's hit series Nine Perfect Strangers has sold for a jaw-dropping price, smashing the local suburb record in the process. The luxurious 13-bedroom Ewingsdale property, nestled in the Byron hinterland, quietly changed hands this week for a reported $10 to $12 million. Property insiders confirmed the sale price eclipsed the previous suburb record. Known as Soma, the nine-hectare retreat-style estate was used as the filming location for Nine Perfect Strangers, which starred Kidman as a mysterious wellness guru. Originally intended to be shot in California, production was moved to Byron Bay in 2020 due to the pandemic. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The lavish home was completed in 2019 and boasts a long list of high-end features including a heated pool, infrared sauna, massage room, ice bath, an outdoor cinema and a stunning geodesic yoga dome. Surrounded by ancient fig trees, lychee rainforest and thick bamboo, the main residence is a sanctuary of calm and privacy, and is located a short distance from the beach. The show, based on Liane Moriarty's bestselling novel, follows nine strangers seeking healing and transformation at a luxury wellness retreat. Soma was co-owned by meditation guru Gary Gorrow and media-tech entrepreneur Peter Ostick, who purchased the land it sits on in 2016 for just $1.8 million. The duo then built the statement residence with help from Gorrow's brother, designer and Ksubi co-founder George Gorrow, and a renowned architect. It has been described by agents as one of Byron Shire's most 'photographed lifestyle properties' with 'Zen-like simplicity'. The property also features floor-to-ceiling glass walls, open-plan living zones, and ten luxurious bedroom suites with timber decks and sunset views. Soma is a sought-after luxury escape that reportedly has the potential to generate more than $1.8 million in annual income as a holiday rental, wellness retreat or film location. Despite the high-profile nature of the property, the identity of the new owner remains under wraps. Original owners Peter Ostick, a tech businessman, and Gary Gorrow, a meditation expert, built the property known as Soma in 2019 after snapping up the nine hectare site in 2016 for a mere $1.8m. Fans of Nine Perfect Strangers will recognise Soma as the location for the sinister 'wellness' retreat that was key to the popular crime story. In the series, Nicole stars as Masha Dmitrichenko, a Russian expatriate and the founder of Tranquillum House. Melissa McCarthy, Regina Hall and Samara Weaving feature as guests who come to the retreat in hopes of being healed and transformed spiritually. But things quickly go awry for the guests as the truth about Kidman's character emerges. The series reunited Kidman with Big Little Lies creator and writer David E. Kelley, as well as novelist Liane Moriarty, who wrote the novels both shows were based on.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Nicole Kidman ‘Nine Perfect Strangers' retreat sold
The luxury home that was the setting of a Nicole Kidman hit mini-series has sold for a mega-million-dollar record-breaking price. The sold sticker went up on the 13-bedroom residence at 221 Kennedys Lane, Ewingsdale, in the Byron Bay hinterland yesterday and although Sotheby's agent Will Phillips wouldn't discuss the result, sources say fetched between $10m-$12m. It broke the suburb record. The stunning 13-bedroom residence with fire pit, outdoor cinema, heated pool, infrared sauna, icebath, massage room and geodesic yoga dome was completed in 2019. And a year later, production of Nine Perfect Strangers moved from California to Byron Bay due to Covid. The mini-series, based on Liane Moriarty's best-selling book, centres on nine 'strangers' who attend a a boutique health and wellness resort called Tranquillum House, seeking transformation and healing. The plan is that they shed their baggage and find a better way of living and Kidman is 'Masha, a Russian-born woman who runs the wellness retreat. Luke Evans is another one of the stars. In real life, the nine-hectare property is known as Soma, and it's owned by media and tech entrepreneur Peter Ostick and meditation guru Gary Gorrow. Gorrow was apparently giving guidance to the producers on the show's ceremonial and spiritual scenes. Ostick and Gorrow had bought the property for $1.8m in 2016, records show, and within two years they'd built the main residence with Gorrow assisting with the design along with his brother, the designer and Ksubi co-founder George Gorrow and the Indonesian architect Ricky Sunur. Described as 'one of Byron Shire's most iconic and photographed lifestyle properties' and having a 'Zen-like simplicity', Soma is just 10 minutes from the beach. The main house, surrounded by lychee rainforests, ancient fig trees and lush bamboo, has a range of living and entertainment zones. There are 10 'indulgent' bedroom suites with hardwood decks and views to take in incredible sunsets. It has a current potential earning capacity of more than $1.8m per annum. Apart from being a remarkable holiday rental or site of another blockbuster movie or mini-series, it would be an ideal private home, family compound or retreat. Phillips wouldn't reveal the identity of the purchaser.
ABC News
7 days ago
- ABC News
Byron Bay night-precinct plan sparks fears of alcohol-fuelled violence
Byron Bay residents are worried a plan to boost the tourism hotspot's nightlife will lead to an increase in alcohol-fuelled violence. The NSW government announced in April that Byron Bay would be the first town outside of Sydney to trial a special entertainment precinct (SEP), as part of a strategy to boost its night-time economy. The move would allow the local council to designate an area in the CBD where trading hours and sound conditions could be relaxed for hospitality venues, live music, and special events. Enmore Road in Sydney became the first permanent SEP in December 2023, and other trials have started around the Chinatown Night Markets in Burwood and Fairfield. But the plan has drawn strong criticism from some residents, with about 150 people attending a community meeting on Tuesday night to raise their concerns. Among them was emergency medicine specialist Blake Eddington, who said extended nightlife trading could put lives at risk. "Seeing teenagers and young people mindlessly assaulted, some of them with life-threatening conditions, that are completely preventable by drinking less alcohol and not having venues stay open until 3, 4, 5 o'clock in the morning." Other medical professionals who spoke at the meeting said local health services, paramedics and police were at capacity, and not equipped to handle an increase in cases. Some speakers at the meeting raised two recent incidents which had shaken the Byron Bay community, including a fight outside a busy cafe last week, and an assault in which a 25-year-old suffered serious head injuries after he was reportedly attacked in a car park by six young men. Data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) showed there were 251 non-domestic-violence-related assaults in the Byron Shire in the 12 months to March — a ratio 1.6 times the statewide rate per 100,000 residents. The BOCSAR website warns crime rates could appear distorted in areas with high visitor populations because the resident population is smaller than the total number of people in the area. It also notes many assaults are not reported to police and are therefore not captured in BOCSAR data. Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce president Matt Williamson said businesses were not necessarily looking to extend their late-night trading, but were keen to try initiatives that could boost the town's "vibrancy". In April, Byron Shire Council received a grant of $162,800 to kickstart community consultation and begin planning the trial. Mr Williamson said consultation so far had been lacking. Concerns about alcohol-related violence prompted a community-led campaign in 2013 called Last Drinks at 12. Byron resident Chris Hanley was part of that initiative, and told ABC North Coast Breakfast the same fears had surfaced again. "Nothing will stop new operators and different people going into the future who do want to … open their venues to the wee small hours and disturb our community," he said. "To have more culture and vibrancy in a town … is easy to do — get council out of the way. "Get council to make it easy for businesses to have outside dining and street festivals." In a statement, NSW Police — which had officers at the community meeting — said Tweed/Byron Police were working alongside government, council, and community stakeholders in ongoing discussions about the SEP. The Byron Shire Council is set to hold information sessions for residents and businesses in August.
