Real reason Darryn Lyons is selling all of his Australian property as Mr Paparazzi now lists his beachfront escape in Far North Queensland

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Darryn Lyons, who used to be a paparazzi photographer and is now the mayor of Geelong, is selling around $6 million worth of property.

Earlier this month, the Daily Mail reported that ‘Mr Paparazzi,’ a well-known and unconventional figure in the media, was seeking potential buyers for his uniquely decorated, entirely pink apartment in Darlinghurst, Sydney.

It’s now public that the former Big Brother UK contestant is selling another one of his expensive homes – a large mansion on the beach in far north Queensland.

The house, originally listed for more than AUD $2.5 million, has had a significant price drop, indicating the owners are eager to sell it quickly.

Darryn explained to Realestate.com.au that he’s selling because he’s moved overseas and is now prioritizing travel.

He admitted he occasionally questions his decision to sell, but believes the house deserves an owner who will fully appreciate and enjoy living there.

Darryn, known in the UK for owning the photo agency Big Pictures, has been spending a lot of time abroad recently.

A travel vlogger has been spending the week in Chiang Rai, Thailand, checking out the local attractions.

Meanwhile, the Queensland property is a contemporary, architecturally designed beachfront home.

This house has four bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom and balcony. Two of the balconies offer ocean views, while the other two look out over the rainforest.

The spacious living, kitchen, and dining areas are bright and airy, and seamlessly connect to a stunning pool that blends into the ocean.

A steam room with glass walls is located next to the pool, and a footbridge leads to an upper deck. From the deck, you can enjoy beautiful views of the pool, garden, and ocean.

Two large sculptures depicting gorillas also sit on the back deck. 

This property has been successfully rented to vacationers in the past and could continue as a luxury getaway, or it could be used as a permanent home.

Darryn described the house as a beautiful place to connect with nature. He explained that every room is designed to showcase the surrounding environment – the ocean, rainforest, sky, and light – creating the feeling of living within nature, rather than just next to it.

Darryn recently listed his house for sale, and reports also surfaced last week that he’s selling his apartment at The Horizon.

A recently renovated two-bedroom apartment in a famous tower designed by Harry Seidler has been called ‘Sydney’s sexiest apartment’ by Lyons.

The house is incredibly over-the-top, with a striking pink design, daring artwork, and luxurious details. It includes a pink bathtub, sparkling crystal lights, and mirrored ceilings in the bedrooms.

Darryn bought the luxury flat off the plan in 1998 for AUD $604,000. 

Darryn hasn’t just been selling off his properties; he also auctioned his provocative art collection in late 2024 before moving overseas.

The auction featured 246 items, valued at thousands of dollars, including a striking throne that once caught the attention of Michael Jackson.

He explained that this throne was one of a set, and Michael Jackson had purchased the matching one.

The sell-off comes after Darryn was hit with a costly tax setback overseas.

In 2023, a UK tax tribunal ruled against him in a long-running dispute with HM Revenue & Customs. 

He was responsible for over £1 million (approximately AUD 1.9 million) in capital gains tax due on the sale of properties in the UK during the 2012-2013 tax year.

The legal issue centered on whether he was a UK resident when he made the sales. The tribunal decided he was, and therefore liable for UK taxes – a ruling that he ultimately lost.

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2026-01-27 11:08