Byron Bay’s world famous gay nude beach, Kings Beach, has been rejected by the NSW Heritage Council as not meeting the threshold for state heritage listing for its cultural and historical significance to the LGBTQ+ community. The nomination was submitted by Rohan Anderson and Jonathon Lee, whose marriage is one example of the many relationships that have formed, and friendships forged at the beach that many believe to be the “best gay beach in the world”.
The heritage rejection comes alongside a lack of appropriate acknowledgement of our community and the erasure of our culture in the official NPWS history and description of the site and a controversial plan by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to mainstream the beach by stamping out nudity. Members of the Kings Beach LGBTIQ Heritage and Culture Facebook Group have been lobbying the minister Penny Sharpe heavily since October 2024, however to date she has remained steadfastly silent on the subject.
It has been regarded as a nude beach since well before the word ‘gay’ was used. The first historical hint of our community’s presence was a local 1933 newspaper article complaining about men “swimming in the nude” near Broken Head. There is also an account of someone who used to regularly visit Kings Beach on his horse during the 2nd World War “to skinny dip with the fellas”.
Kings Beach’s historical importance as a community hub for the queer community dates from the Aquarius festival in 1973 when many alternative queer people moved to the area. Then in the 1980s and 90s, when many gay men who were sick or dying from AIDS moved to the an and sought solace at Kings. Memorial services and scattering of ashes have been held there.
NPWS have temporarily paused policing our community for 12 months due to community backlash, however our culture remains at risk; the lack of official recognition of our community by NPWS remains and the refusal by Heritage NSW to even assess our Heritage Nomination or look at any evidence before rejecting it reeks of blatant homophobia.
We are requesting that members of the queer community urgently write to Minister Sharpe (who claims to be an advocate) requesting her to break her silence on the subject in support of an upcoming resubmission for a State Heritage Nomination, and to have our culture and heritage recognized officially by NPWS. You can do so at [email protected]
In the interim, our community on Kings Beach remains steadfastly in place and continues to gather and relax in this stunning culturally safe space.
Follow Kings Beach LGBTIQ Heritage and Culture Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1302725307426133
