Kings Beach, a cherished LGBTQIA+ nude beach near Byron Bay in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, is facing new restrictions after decades of serving as a cultural safe space for queer Australians.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has recently increased patrols and begun enforcing mandatory clothing rules, effectively ending the beach’s unofficial clothing-optional status — a change that’s sparked concern from locals and LGBTQIA+ advocates.
An alert on the NPWS website now reads:
“Kings Beach continues to be a place for the LGBTIQA+ community to enjoy, however due to the increased visitation and the shared nature of this beloved destination, Kings Beach is not a clothing-optional area.”
Community Pushback & ACON Engagement
In response, LGBTQIA+ health and advocacy organisation ACON Northern Rivers partnered with NPWS earlier this year to host a community information session. The goal was to explain the new regulations and open a dialogue on acknowledging the beach’s historical importance to the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Kings Beach has been an important place for our communities for decades, particularly for those who lived through the AIDS crisis,” an ACON spokesperson told The Guardian.
“We agreed to assist NPWS because we considered that some members of our communities would prefer to hear about changes from an LGBTQ+ organisation rather than government authorities.”
A Site of Cultural and Historical Significance
For more than 50 years, Kings Beach has served as a queer sanctuary, particularly during the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. It’s also a memorial site—ashes of several gay men have been scattered there, making it not only a leisure spot but also a site of remembrance.
Locals and campaigners are now calling for the beach to be officially recognised for its LGBTQIA+ cultural significance under the Broken Head Nature Reserve Plan of Management. They are urging NSW Climate and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe to formally protect the site.
Sharpe’s office has confirmed the minister is aware of the issue and plans to take action.
A Safe Haven at Risk
For many, Kings Beach offers a unique sense of freedom and safety.
“People go to queer beaches to feel safe, away from the judgment and sometimes violence of mainstream beach users,” campaigner Rohan Anderson told The Guardian.
“Kings is the only place we know of that one can hold a same-sex partner’s hand without consciously assessing the risks… It’s true cultural freedom, and this needs to be protected.”
Advocates are calling for the same level of respect afforded to internationally recognised LGBTQIA+ beaches, such as Hanlan’s Point Beach in Canada, site of the first Canada Pride in 1971.
