Anytime Fitness founder Jacinta McDonell lists Byron Bay hinterland retreat

Anytime Fitness Australia co-founder Jacinta McDonell is selling her Byron Bay hinterland retreat, as she intends to spend more time on overseas projects.

The fitness entrepreneur paid $2.1 million in 2015 for the Queenslander on 9000 square metres at Federal about 30 minutes drive west of Byron Bay. 

Helen Huntly-Barrett at First National Byron Bay has a guide of $2.6 million to $2.8 million.

Two years ago McDonell, who oversees a gym empire of over 430 clubs across Australia, sold her Balmain trophy home for $3,775,000.

Earlier this year she spent $3.47 million on a duplex-style Federation residence with ocean views in Clovelly, with plans to turn into a family home.

McDonell and her brother Justin co-founded Anytime Fitness Australia in 2008, having opened their first gym soon out of high school in 1992.

McDonell more recently founded W1LL, an online yoga and meditation platform matched to music and visuals.

The mother of three has also founded a not-for-profit foundation, The Human Kind Project, which funds projects in Africa and India.

While she's grateful for her time at Byron, O'Donell intends spending more time overseas for the foundation and in Sydney working on her development.

McDonell says space away from the daily grind was critical to allow for "big-picture thinking".

The classic character Weemala Lane weatherboard is wrapped in verandahs which overlook the 15 metre heated salt water swimming pool. 

The property, with an award-winning contemporary extension, was initially renovated around 2001 by architect Sharon Fraser and her builder partner, Steve Esson after the Queenslander had been transported to the property in the 1980s. 

Since McDonell bought it, the separate studio had just been converted into a health and fitness area with bathroom. 

It comes with a fully equipped stainless-steel kitchen that flows in to the lounge rooms, complete with large glass windows to take in the vistas and a stand alone open fireplace.

This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.