Welcome to Byron Bay
Twenty-five million years ago lava poured over this region and created the mountains, canyons and promontories that you see around the northern rivers. Time and tide shaped the region, creating sandy beaches,forests and lush valleys. Over 40,000 years ago the ancient ancestors of today's Bundgalung people arrived as stewards of this land - known as Cavanbaugh - it was a meeting place of the over 25indigenous groups living across the region.More recently, Byron Bay became home to the cedar cutters, farmers,whalers and even miners. Village of Cavanbah was first surveyed in1884, and the first lots for houses were sold in 1885. You can listen to more stories about the history of these groups in the main beach walking tour.Today this region is still a meeting place for people from all over the world, and Byron Bay has come into it's own as a world-class tourist destination.Let's take a brief walk through town and I can share with you some of the spots that are a part of Byron's cultural history, and some of our more colourful landmarks on the main street.FIRST STOP - THE RAILSThe Rails- Our first top just outside the visitors center and located just back from the main road beside the historic Byron Bay Railway Station and left of the Railway Park, is the historic Railway friendly bar, or The Rails, as the locals like to call it. The first historic train trip from Mullumbimby to Lismore was made by the steam engine 124 on the 15th May 1894. It took just one hour and 20minutes to reach Byron Bay. This trip used to take a day on horseback.The first station master at the Byron Bay Railway Station was appointed in1904 and the refreshment room (which is today the 'Rails Hotel') was opened in 1908, and survives today as what you see here. The Railway friendly Bar is one of only two licensed railway refreshment rooms in the whole country – at least these days passengers aren’t in danger of failing to embark on their journey due to inebriation. It became a popular pastime to catch the train from inland centres to arrive at Byron Bay for a day at the beach. Byron began its own long journey into becoming the first tourist town in the region .Outside and to the side of the Rails is railway park, a central gathering place for visitors and locals alike. Go to the middle of the park, when you're there, press next stop on the lower right side of your tour app.
Railway Park
Byron Bay is home to a diverse population of people who have come together and protected the region from large scale development and big industries. It is home to passionate locals who care deeply about their community, as well as an international destination for over a million visitors per year. With this growth comes changes. Today Byron Bay is in the midst of improving the public spaces within the community, bringing greater benefit and interaction between community assets and the people who live, work and play here. In a process called place-making, the local council has engaged the support of locals and regional professionals in developing a common vision and strategy to create a healthier, more social and economically viable community for the decades to come...Now let's walk down to the footpath, turn left, and from there, walk up to the next block to 28 Jonson street – here you will find a small door marked 'Writers Center'. When you reach this spot, press next stop on the lower right side of your tour app
Byron's Festivals - The Writers Center
The Byron Shire hosts a wide variety of festivals, both musical and cultural, including Bluesfest, the Boomerang Festival, Splendour in the Grass, The Mullumbimby Festival, Byron Spirit Festival, TheSample Food Festival; the Uplift festival… the list goes on… One of our most beloved local festivals is the annual Byron Bay Writers Festival.This literary festival began in 1997 and has always had a strong focus on Australian Writing. Initially the festival had an audience of 200 locals – and it now sells over 45 000 individual tickets! The festival has grown to attract both national and international authors who participate in panels, deliver lectures, give readings, and generally provide an awesome event that celebrates robust, diverse and compelling discussion. The festival is held around August of each year, and has become a “must- do” event on Australia’s literary calendar.However if you cant make it to Byron Bay for August, the Northern Rivers Writers Centre, who run the festival, also offer a year round program of workshops for writers of all genres, and at all stages in their careers. The Northern Rivers Write’s Centre is located on JohnsonStreet, you can drop in and pick up a program, or visit them on the web to see their upcoming workshop programs.Let's continue down the pavement up to the main roundabout at the corner of Jonson and lawson street. When you get to the corner of the Main Roundabout – cnr Jonson and Lawson Sts, press next stop on the lower right side of your tour app.
The Peace Roundabout and the artist Colin Heaney
In the midst of this busy intersection is a very special treat.Renowned glass and textile and digital artist Colin Heaney coordinated a team of volunteers to create “The Peace Roundabout” on the corner of Jonson and Lawson Streets in 2004. Artist and Sculptor Colin Heaney creates his beautiful works using custom blown glass, textiles and digital mediums. The Canadian artist like so many others, visited Byron Bay in the 60’s on a surfing trip. He loved what he found,and lucky for Byron Bay, stayed on to create some of the most sought after glass creations in the world. Here's visionary artist Colin Heaney talking about the inspiration for the creation of the round-about.Crossing the road in Byron, even in crosswalks, should be done with extreme care. Carefully cross the street and we'll stop up at the corner on the other side of the road in front of the OzyMex restaurant....when you get there, press next stop on the lower right side of your tour app.
The Byron Bay Chilli Company - The chilli tasted around the world
The little red chilli that “could”…Byron has many excellent places to grab a bite to eat, night or day. There are many cafes, burger bars, ice-cream and frozen yoghurt shops around the Byron Bay CBD area. One of our local success stories with international appeal is the OzyMex takeaway, near the main roundabout in Byron Bay CBD.Directly across the street, OzyMex is the retail store front of the Byron Bay Chilli Company, who’s sauces and products are now loved by people all over the world. The Byron Bay Chilli Company products are the recipients of many “Scoviawards”, which are prizes awarded on the basis of how a chilli scores on the Scoville Scale.The Scoville Scale was invented by an American Pharmacist called Wilbur Scoville in 1912, and is used to measure the spicy heat of a chilli. It’s basically the equivalent of winning an Oscar if you’re a chilli sauce.The Byron Bay Chilli Company started out doing its thing, growing chillis up in the rich, red soil of the Byron Bay hills. The chilli company folks started out selling tacos and burritos from a food van at the local markets. They perfected their own range of sauces and salsa’s to complement their wares, but word got out, and the Byron Bay Chilli Company is now world famous. While you’re here why not take the opportunity to try it out for yourself?Keep going from Ozy mex, and cross the street towards the balcony. Go left on the path, and walk up towards the beach. When you reach the alley just across from the beach hotel, I want to share something really special with you... press next stop on the lower right side of your tour app.
Bay Lane Activation - Community Gathering Spot
Bay Lane with its line of little restaurants, is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat after a dip or surf at Main Beach. Located just behind the Beach Hotel, this little lane has been the heart of our local community “activation” events where the local business owners, artists and performers come together to highlight and celebrate a great space to gather and connect.The Byron Bay community is very lucky to have such a broad and rich, population of creative artists, filmmakers, writers, singers, music makers, painters, wordsmiths, chefs, designers, thinkers, dancers and shakers, to be found anywhere in the world.This area is set to become a stage where all of these talents intersect, with as many as 20 different activities happening here on a given night – from music, to art work, video projections, kids play area, food, couples kissing and the vibrant coming together of all aspects of our community.Explore our spaces and keep an eye out for the corners of town where we might be trying something new. You never know what you’ll find in Byron Bay’s little nooks and crannies.As you walk through town, it's hard to miss the explosion of street art painted by artists living here, or just passing through. Street art and Byron culture go hand in hand, and the byron council and local businesses have both commissioned art for walls in town, as well as offering grants and contests to help expand Byron Bay's urban artscene. This “good graffiti art” has reduced vandalism of the spaces and has helped to invigorate the local artist culture.As you continue to walk up towards the beach, the beautiful building at the corner across from the beach park is known as the beach hotel. Take a visit up the stairs and inside the main gathering area – when you find a comfortable spot to relax, press next stop on the lower right side of your tour app.
The Beach Hotel
In 1986, Australia gained international attention with the release of crocodile dundee – a delightful comedy about a crocodile hunter from the outback who visits New York City. Prominent local philanthropist, John Cornell was Paul Hogan’s long-time manager and collaborator.Famous on television in the 70’s and 80’s, John Cornell played Strop, Paul Hogan’s dim-witted surf life saver buddy on the “Paul HoganShow”, and Mr Cornell’s accomplishments do not stop there. ..John Cornell also co-wrote and produced the Blockbuster Crocodile Dundee 1 & 2, and was instrumental in the introduction of World Series International Cricket. In 1990, along with his wife Delvene Delaney, John built the iconic Beach Hotel at Byron Bay.Mr Cornell still lives in the shire and is a long-term supporter of many local organisations and charities, including the Byron Bay Surf Lifesaving Club. The Beach Hotel continues to be a favorite spot for visitors to have a bite to eat and soak in the laid-back Byron Bay Lifestyle.CHECK OUT THE BYRON BAY WALKING TOURYou can continue to find out more about Byron Bay with the Foreshore tour in your Walking Tour App. If you have the time, this is a great way to get to know the deeper history of our region, as well as enjoying one of the great walks in the world.You'll need 2-3 hours, and make sure you've got walking shoes and some water with you. Or, just listen to a few of the stops on the foreshore. To listen to the tour, go back to the main screen and launch the first tour in the app.Thank you for coming to Byron Bay – we hope you've enjoyed this little overview of some of the iconic spots in our town.
