Casas Secretas – The Dairy

A nostalgic dairy reimagined as a magical event space and design-infused honeymoon escape wrapped in views of the Byron Bay hinterland.

Dappled light dances over dark walls. Undulating hills roll outside floor to ceiling glass vistas. Afternoon sun seeps into artisanal textures, spilling poetry into the pockets of iconic places. Painterly skies dissolve into darkly lit nights. A magical elixir of slowness and seclusion.

Along a winding hinterland road you might never have discovered as a visitor to Byron Bay, lies a scattering of properties hidden amongst rolling hills – Casas Secretas. Here in complete seclusion, yet just a short drive to Byron’s iconic beaches, you’ll find one of the area’s best kept secrets – a luxurious holiday home transformed from the property’s original dairy.

A collision of design juxtapositions, the space (one of three dreamy properties in the Casas Secretas group) is the alchemy of mother and daughter duo Lucy Haidamous and Julie Weis. It’s a place that shocks with unexpected beauty the moment you unlatch its rustic gated entrance. Inside, traditional dairy has been reimagined as an outdoor entertaining space wrapped in dreamy hinterland surrounds. Alongside, a newly built home in moody palettes blends architectural elements with repurposed materials, floor to ceiling glass, soft furnishings and layers of handcrafted pieces by local artisans.

Spend a weekend here to completely disconnect, stay for your wedding night or honeymoon, hire the space for a pre-wedding dinner or intimate wedding, or to use alongside the main event space at Casas Secretas, La Villa. This moody, masculine space is the perfect canvas to contrast with ethereal styling, masses of feminine, sculptural blooms and create a magical event lit by candlelight, or to exaggerate with rustic accents for a groomsmen event.

The Magic

The Interior Styling

The styling alone is enough of a reason to visit Casas Secretas. Every corner of The Dairy has been carefully considered and layered in luxurious pieces collected by Julie and Lucy and handcrafted by artisans. The dining table inside The Dairy is such an exquisite statement piece all beautifully handcrafted and imperfectly shaped, it’s half of the styling work finished for you – all you need to add are a few accents to soften the surrounds.

The Hinterland Views

Every aspect of the house has been designed with hinterland vistas in mind. Inside, glass bi-fold doors completely open to rolling hills and you wake to sunrise views through large corner windows that spill dappled light onto every surface. The Dairy opens on one side and frames the most magical views. Sunshine or rain, it’s the perfect space to retreat to for languid days surrounded by nature.

“This moody, masculine space is the perfect canvas to contrast with ethereal styling, masses of feminine, sculptural blooms and create a magical event lit by candlelight.”

The Wedding

The Pre-Wedding Dinner

Hold a decadent pre-wedding dinner (or an intimate wedding reception) for a maximum of 16 guests inside The Dairy. Contrast the masculine, rustic space with soft, feminine elements – think cascading silk napkins or a table runner that spills to the ground, sculptural blooms in whimsical palettes (Iris, Orchids, Lunaria or branches of blossoms when in season), textural stationery, ambient candlelight and finish with gilded metallic touches.

Alternatively, The Dairy is the perfect canvas for a groomsmen lunch or whisky tasting event for the guys, where you could layer rustic elements and emphasise the dark moody palette, adding luxurious elements and textures like glass and brass.

The Ceremony

Exchange vows between the leafy arbors of La Villa or the macadamia orchid surrounding the property that forms a naturally-occurring aisle and opens up to sweeping views of the hinterland and glimpses of the ocean.

The Aperitivo Hour

Create a decadent grazing table inside The Dairy filled with artisanal cheeses and hand selected wines for guests to indulge in post-ceremony, before moving through to your reception revealed inside La Villa.

The Reception

Transport your guests to what feels like an afternoon in the hills of Tuscany, just a short walk from The Dairy, La Villa. Here a private outdoor pavilion can be hired, framed by architectural pillars and sweeping views of the hinterland. This chalk-hued space offers perfect contrast to The Dairy where you can create a romantic tablescape layered in earthen palettes, cascading linen and scattered with candlelight. Drape festoon or fairy lights above the lawn that spills from La Villa’s pavilion to celebrate into the evening under the stars.