Halcyon Days

Inspired by the beauty of the Mediterranean, an artist builds her dream home on Australia’s east coast and creates the best of both worlds

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, Genola de Jong and her family were driving through the Byron Bay hinterland when they stopped at a patch of farmland with a little brick house. “As soon as we turned onto the street, we knew we wanted to be there... and then we saw the view!” Genola recalls. It was love at first sight, and they bought the 20-acre Newrybar property at auction that same day. For a few years the house was used for holidays, until they decided to knock it down and build a new, permanent home. Genola and her husband Simon have both had experience building, “but this project was all about us and what we wanted,” she smiles.