Bangalow: The creative small town where residents chase their dreams

On a visit to family in Bangalow 11 years ago, Ben Alcock and his wife Grescha Brewer thought it was a lovely place to retire to sometime in the distant future.

Fast-forward two weeks and the couple found themselves packing up their Sydney home and making the move after a serendipitous job vacancy landed Brewer a job at the local aged-care facility.

“It was a crazy set of circumstances,” Alcock says.

“If it hadn’t happened that fast we probably would have talked ourselves out of it. We thought we would give it a year or so and see how it goes, and we’re still here 11 years later, embedded in the community.

“We’re still pinching ourselves about this little life we’ve created up here.”

Getting involved

Perhaps not so little: Alcock has his fingers in many local pies, from a financial technology start-up to a first-rate film festival that premiered at the Bangalow Showground earlier this year and is set to become an annual event.

“Once you open yourself up to the community lots of things swim into view and you can participate as a punter or sometimes get lucky enough to get your teeth stuck in as an operator,” he says.

Alcock has worked on ABC North Coast radio, freelances as a writer and content producer and dabbles in pickling, winning blue rosettes at the Bangalow Show off the back of his aunt’s pickled onion recipe.

“When you’re in Sydney and you go to the Royal Easter Show each year, it doesn’t feel personal,” he says.

“But when you’re in a small town and they have an annual agricultural show the community gets excited about baking cakes and lamingtons, and the kids are baking shortbreads and doing artworks and entering in pavilion categories.

“It’s pretty hard not to get caught up in it and it’s super-fun!”

Alcock describes the Bangalow community as a creative, entrepreneurial bunch looking for a slightly quieter life.

He believes living beyond the city is a great way to buy yourself time to chase dreams.

“It gives you the headspace to look up and look around, which you sometimes miss when you’re on a bus for 45 minutes, looking at your phone,” he says.

So central

Alcock loves having Byron Bay close by and also enjoys visiting the surrounding towns of Brunswick Heads, Lennox Head, Clunes and Federal.

Ed Silk Byron Bay principal Ed Silk says the whole region offers so much while also being close to the coast and the airport.

He reports increasing migration from out west, with farmers downsizing to Bangalow, and plenty of interest from Sydney and Melbourne families.

Homes at the top end of the market are tightly held, with homeowners building their dream property and staying on to “live the dream”.

One to watch

Claiming sweeping district views from its ridgeline position, this contemporary residence with horizon-edge pool sits on almost 40 hectares, currently home to 3500 macadamia trees and 300 finger lime trees.

It offers dual access and development potential.

Ed Silk Byron Bay is selling the home with a guide of $16 million.

12,500,000

18 Pioneers Crescent, Bangalow NSW 2479

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