Inside Hollywood hunk Chris Hemsworth’s $20million mega-mansion complete with $400,000 swimming pool

Critics say it reminds them of a suburban shopping centre, a refurbished RSL club or a regional airport terminal.

But to Avengers movie star Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky this $20million mega-mansion in the Byron Bay hinterland is about to become their family home. 

The 50-metre rooftop infinity pool alone is estimated to have cost at least $400,000, an enormous indoor mural could be worth as much as $100,000 and the landscaping bill would reach $500,000.

Formwork and concrete for the foundations of Fortress Hemsworth – known on architectural plans as ‘Project 657 BHR’ – will have set the couple back $1.5million to $2million.

 

Critics say Fortress Hemsworth reminds them of a suburban shopping centre, a refurbished RSL club or a regional airport terminal. But to Avengers and Men in Black: International star Chris Hemsworth and his Spanish actor wife Elsa Pataky this $20million mega-mansion in the Byron Bay hinterland is about to become their family home after almost three years of work

Hemsworth, 35, and Pataky, 42, bought the 4.2 hectare property once known as Kooeloah for $7million in 2014. They had previously lived in Malibu but chose the Byron Bay area to raise children India Rose, seven, and twins Tristan and Sasha, five

Hemsworth, 35, and Pataky, 42, bought the 4.2 hectare property once known as Kooeloah for $7million in 2014. They had previously lived in Malibu but chose the Byron Bay area to raise children India Rose, seven, and twins Tristan and Sasha, five 

The 50-metre infinity pool is estimated to have cost at least $400,000, and the landscaping bill for Fortress Hemsworth could reach $500,000. The nearly completed family home in Broken Head Road at Broken Head is pictured earlier this month

The 50-metre infinity pool is estimated to have cost at least $400,000, and the landscaping bill for Fortress Hemsworth could reach $500,000. The nearly completed family home in Broken Head Road at Broken Head is pictured earlier this month

Fortunately, the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Men in Black franchises have been good to Hemsworth, with Forbes magazine estimating he earned $US64.5million ($91.7million) last year. 

For Sydney builder Jason Natoli, who specialises in luxury renovations, the most striking aspect of the new Broken Head landmark is its sheer size.

‘It’s ginormous,’ Mr Natoli said. ‘It’s been built like resort-style accommodation.’

‘You’ve got an infinity pool with a spa, five bedrooms with five en suites, a large indoor-outdoor kitchen, a four-car garage.

‘There’s a cinema room, massage room, sauna room, steam room, games room with a bar.

‘There’s also a mud room – I’ve never heard of that before.’

Mud rooms, made popular in America, are secondary entrances used to store coats, shoes and items such as bikes, umbrellas and surfboards which are regularly carried in and out of the house.

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky relax on the beach with two of their children near their new home in Byron Bay's hinterland. 'In LA, my kids had a camera in front of them all the time and it made my daughter become very scared of photos,' Pataky said

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky relax on the beach with two of their children near their new home in Byron Bay’s hinterland. ‘In LA, my kids had a camera in front of them all the time and it made my daughter become very scared of photos,’ Pataky said 

The Hemsworth property, about 12 kilometres out of Byron Bay, is on Broken Head Road and overlooks Seven Mile Beach. The cost of construction work was estimated to be $18million in a development application lodged with Byron Shire Council

The Hemsworth property, about 12 kilometres out of Byron Bay, is on Broken Head Road and overlooks Seven Mile Beach. The cost of construction work was estimated to be $18million in a development application lodged with Byron Shire Council

This week Hemsworth revealed on Instagram a huge Aboriginal mural painted on an internal wall of his new home by indigenous artist and surfing buddy Otis Carey, which Sydney builder Jason Natoli estimated could be worth $100,000

This week Hemsworth revealed on Instagram a huge Aboriginal mural painted on an internal wall of his new home by indigenous artist and surfing buddy Otis Carey, which Sydney builder Jason Natoli estimated could be worth $100,000

There is also a gymnasium, butler’s pantry, fire pit, change rooms, outdoor play area for the three Hemsworth children and walk-in wardrobes attached to four of the bedrooms.

Because the house is surrounded by bushland it was required to have its own 20,000 litre fire-fighting water tanks and extra access for Rural Fire Service vehicles.

Mr Natoli said he could not see any provision for landing a helicopter, one of Hemsworth’s favoured means of transportation. 

After almost three years of work the project is nearing completion and the Hemsworth-Pataky clan is preparing to move in. 

‘My dream was to be immersed in nature and surrounded by animals,’ Pataky told Harpers Bazaar in May. ‘This place makes you enjoy life and let go of ambition and ego.’ 

While the average floor size of a new Sydney home is now 186.3 square metres, the Hemsworth residence covers about 900 square metres internally. 

That’s plenty of room for visiting guests including Chris’s younger brother Liam and his wife Miley Cyrus, older brother Luke, his wife Samantha and their four children.

The construction is technically only one-storey but the staggered floors make it appear to be multi-leveled.

Formwork and concrete for the foundations of 'Fortress Hemsworth' - known on architectural plans as Project 657 BHR - will have set the couple back at estimated $1.5million to $2million. This picture shows finishing touches being made to the house

Formwork and concrete for the foundations of ‘Fortress Hemsworth’ – known on architectural plans as Project 657 BHR – will have set the couple back at estimated $1.5million to $2million. This picture shows finishing touches being made to the house

'My dream was to be immersed in nature and surrounded by animals,' Pataky has said of her family's Byron Bay lifestyle. 'This place makes you enjoy life and let go of ambition and ego.' Her husband is regularly seen surfing on northern NSW beaches

‘My dream was to be immersed in nature and surrounded by animals,’ Pataky has said of her family’s Byron Bay lifestyle. ‘This place makes you enjoy life and let go of ambition and ego.’ Her husband is regularly seen surfing on northern NSW beaches

Fortress Hemsworth also features a mud room, made popular in American homes. Mud rooms are secondary entrances used to store coats, dirty shoes and items such as bikes and surfboards regularly carried in and out of the house. (Stock image)

Fortress Hemsworth also features a mud room, made popular in American homes. Mud rooms are secondary entrances used to store coats, dirty shoes and items such as bikes and surfboards regularly carried in and out of the house. (Stock image)

Mr Natoli, whose Jcorp Construction renovated publicist Roxy Jacenko new $6.5million home at Vaucluse, described the Hemsworth home as an ‘LA-style mansion’.

‘It’s a gorgeous house,’ Mr Natoli said. ‘Technically it’s one level but it’s sort of stepped to make it feel as one. 

‘You could say it’s an LA sort of mansion-style design. It’s a very contemporary LA-style, where everything is indoor-outdoor living.’ 

The couple had planned the house so that the huge glass windows and doors opened onto the rooftop entertaining area including the pool and surrounding bushland. 

‘When it opens up it feels like the outdoors and indoors are all one,’ Mr Natoli said.

Not all locals have welcomed the size of Fortress Hemsworth.

‘I thought Byron would be Noosafied but apparently it’s being Hollywooded,’ one wrote on Facebook last year. ‘Next level.’

A development application estimated the cost of construction to be $18million. 'If they say that, I reckon it was around $20million,' builder Jason Natoli told Daily Mail Australia. The building is pictured under construction in February this year

A development application estimated the cost of construction to be $18million. ‘If they say that, I reckon it was around $20million,’ builder Jason Natoli told Daily Mail Australia. The building is pictured under construction in February this year

The couple planned the house so that the huge glass windows and doors opened onto the entertaining area including the pool and surrounding bushland. 'When it opens up it feels like the outdoors and indoors are all one,' builder Jason Natoli said

The couple planned the house so that the huge glass windows and doors opened onto the entertaining area including the pool and surrounding bushland. ‘When it opens up it feels like the outdoors and indoors are all one,’ builder Jason Natoli said

Another woman went further: ‘It’s obscene, greedy, flashy, vulgar opulence at its finest and has no place in the Byron I once knew and love.’

‘A sad sign of things to come due to greedy, unfettered development policy.’ 

But Mr Natoli said while the scale of the house was enormous the design was relatively simple.

‘It’s just a big box,’ he said. ‘There’s nothing too flashy. The only thing is it’s huge.’

The property, about 12 kilometres out of Byron Bay, is on Broken Head Road and overlooks Seven Mile Beach. 

A development application approved by Byron Shire Council estimated the cost of construction to be $18million. 

‘If they say that, I reckon it was around $20million,’ Mr Natoli said.

Most of that money has gone back into the northern rivers community. The home has been built by Jason Stehn whose company Stehnbuild is based in nearby Bangalow. 

Mr Stehn declined to comment on the work when contacted by Daily Mail Australia, citing his clients’ privacy. 

Not all locals have welcomed the size of Fortress Hemsworth. 'I thought Byron would be Noosafied but apparently it's being Hollywooded,' one wrote on Facebook. Another woman said it was 'obscene, greedy, flashy, vulgar opulence at its finest'

Not all locals have welcomed the size of Fortress Hemsworth. ‘I thought Byron would be Noosafied but apparently it’s being Hollywooded,’ one wrote on Facebook. Another woman said it was ‘obscene, greedy, flashy, vulgar opulence at its finest’

Fortress Hemsworth has plenty of room for visiting guests including Chris's younger brother Liam and his wife Miley Cyrus, older brother Luke, his wife Samantha and their four children. Actor Matt Damon and his family are also likely future visitors

Fortress Hemsworth has plenty of room for visiting guests including Chris’s younger brother Liam and his wife Miley Cyrus, older brother Luke, his wife Samantha and their four children. Actor Matt Damon and his family are also likely future visitors

Other local businesses to have benefited from the project are a land surveyor from Mullumbimby, a structural engineer from Kingscliff, a town planner from Brunswick Heads and energy consultant from Ballina.

The hydraulic engineer, bushfire consultant and quantity surveyor used during construction are all based in Lennox Head and the environmental consultant is in Byron Bay. 

Architects MCK are an award-winning firm based in Sydney’s Surry Hills. 

‘We specialise in residential and commercial projects of high-quality finish and detail that are sensitive to context and brief,’ the company’s website states. 

‘Our distinctive aesthetic is known for its classic proportion and geometric form.

‘We enjoy using unexpected materials that challenge and sometimes even surprise. We also believe that good architecture and respect for the environment go hand in hand.’

Plans for the Hemsworth home were lodged in late 2016 and approved in March 2017. There have been several alterations along the way.

The family moved to the northern rivers region from Los Angeles, where they had a home in Malibu, to raise their children in a more relaxed environment.

‘In LA, my kids had a camera in front of them all the time and it made my daughter become very scared of photos,’ Pataky said in 2017. 

Forbes magazine estimated Chris Hemsworth earned $US64.5million ($91.7million) last year. He is pictured with wife Elsa Pataky at the June world premiere of Men in Black: International. Hemsworth stars as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Forbes magazine estimated Chris Hemsworth earned $US64.5million ($91.7million) last year. He is pictured with wife Elsa Pataky at the June world premiere of Men in Black: International. Hemsworth stars as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Hemsworth and Pataky bought Kooeloah - which means 'home of the dolphins' - on 4.2 hectares in the Byron Bay hinterland for $7million in 2014. They razed the Balinese-style buildings to erect their new mega-mansion overlooking Seven Mile Beach

Hemsworth and Pataky bought Kooeloah – which means ‘home of the dolphins’ – on 4.2 hectares in the Byron Bay hinterland for $7million in 2014. They razed the Balinese-style buildings to erect their new mega-mansion overlooking Seven Mile Beach

Hemsworth, 35, and Pataky, 42, bought the 4.2 hectare Broken Head property once known as Kooeloah – meaning ‘home of the dolphins’ – for $7million in 2014.

That tranquil retreat featured a main Balinese-style residence and three villas, with a lagoon and lap pools. 

In July last year the couple paid $4.3million for a house in nearby Suffolk Park where they have been living with seven-year-old daughter India Rose and twin boys Tristan and Sasha, five.

Mr Natoli said the infinity pool would have cost at least $400,000, while landscaping – including the mature palm trees which rise through the roof – would easily reach $500,000.  

This week Hemsworth revealed a huge Aboriginal mural painted on an internal wall by indigenous artist and surfing buddy Otis Carey, which Mr Natoli estimated could be worth $100,000.

‘Had a big empty wall that needed some love and was beyond thankful to have one of my favourite artists @otishopecarey help out!’ Hemsworth posted on Instagram. 

Brother Luke was impressed, writing: ‘wow. Truly epic can’t wait to see it in person.’

After almost three years of work in the Byron Bay hinterland in northern NSW, Fortresss Hemsworth is nearing completion

After almost three years of work in the Byron Bay hinterland in northern NSW, Fortresss Hemsworth is nearing completion

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