It may be Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky’s ultimate dream home with five-star facilities fit for royalty, but for their neighbours in Broken Head near NSW’s Byron Bay, living next door to Hollywood celebrities has turned into a nightmare.
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Chris, 35, and Elsa, 42, are sinking almost $9 million into the ambitious refurbishment of their eight-bedroom, multistorey property, which they bought for $7 million in 2014.
And now locals say it looks completely out of place in the picturesque region. Besides the “horrible ugliness” of the property, residents fear it’ll get worse if and when more celebrities flock to the area.
“It used to be very quiet, but the overflow from [Byron Bay] is horrendous: you can’t get a park, you’ve gone from surfing with three people to surfing with 53 people,” says Byron local Darren Birch.
“It seems excessive but there’s not much we can do about it – nothing surprises me in this town these days.”
READ MORE: “I promise I won’t become a d–k head,” Chris Hemsworth reveals how his family keeps him humble.
The “horrible ugliness” of the property has the locals worried about more celebrities coming to the area.
Once complete, Chris and Elsa’s abode will boast a state-of-the-art spa, sauna and a media room. There’s also a luxury gym and huge infinity pool on the roof.
But many have compared the unsightly construction to a multistorey car park, a shopping mall and even a prison!
“All the negativity is a real headache for Chris and Elsa because the last thing they want is to upset their neighbours,” an insider tells Woman’s Day.
“They insist they went into this with every good intention, and they’re not disturbing anybody by building themselves a dream home in the region they both love.
“It’s a shame from their point of view that people are giving them a hard time and choosing to be negative, but they’re going full-steam ahead and can’t wait for it to be finished.”
READ MORE: Matt Damon has purchased a house in Byron Bay next door to Chris Hemsworth.
Chris and Elsa, along with their three children, bought their Byron Bay property in 2014.
Locals have also shared their views on the A-listers renovations on the Internet.
One post in a Byron Bay community group said, “Looks like the new Woolies.”
“What the hell is he building… that’s more than just a house,” another wrote.
“Way to live minimally. I wonder what the environmental footprint is like,”
WATCH: Chris Hemsworth talks about living in Byron Bay
