Our story
A boutique Byron Bay agency built on relationships, local knowledge and results.
At Skene & Co we create connections that shape the future of Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers.
Founded by Matthew Skene, a respected real estate professional and long-time local, our boutique agency was built to combine the personal touch of a small firm with the results of a market leader.
Matthew’s career has always revolved around high performance. After years in Sydney leading sales for global companies and playing professional rugby in Australia and abroad, he and his family settled in the Byron hinterland. Here, he saw the opportunity to build a premium brand that reflects both the lifestyle and the ambition of the region.
Since launching, Skene & Co has been behind some of the area’s most significant transactions. These results show the strength of our networks, the creativity of our approach, and our ability to negotiate complex deals that deliver premium outcomes.
What truly sets us apart is our commitment to people. We take the time to understand each client’s vision, then craft a tailored strategy to achieve it. Whether it’s a prestige home, commercial property or an off-market opportunity, our mission is to match the right buyer with the right property, and make the process seamless.
Significant sales
Matthew Skene · Principal
Licensed agent Matthew Skene started Skene & Co in the Northern Rivers to build genuine relationships and achieve premium prices for prestige property owners across the Byron Shire and surrounds.
Playing property matchmaker is his superpower: drawing on an extensive network to pair each property with its ideal buyer. The ability to think outside the box and negotiate challenging transactions drives the best outcomes.
It’s Matthew’s easy-going nature and genuine approach that put vendors and buyers at ease during an otherwise stressful process. He takes the time to get to know people so he can understand their needs and act in their best interests.
Having moved from Sydney to the Byron Bay hinterland with his wife Amy and their three children, Matthew has a deep appreciation for the lifestyle this region offers. Surfing, yoga and tennis are part of the weekly routine, and his competitive spirit really kicks in across the ping pong table.
How we work
We get to know you, your property and your goals before we recommend anything.
Listings live within a tight timeframe, on a considered budget, using technology to maximise exposure.
Calm, strategic negotiation that protects your interests and keeps every party moving to settlement.
Reviews & referrals
Matthew’s professionalism and commitment were evident from the start. He took the time to understand our property, its history, and its unique appeal. What truly stood out were Matthew’s negotiation skills — they are simply unparalleled. His ability to navigate offers, handle discussions, and secure the best outcome for us was beyond impressive. In all my years, I’ve never seen anyone approach negotiations with such expertise and finesse.
Matthew was outstanding in the sale of my property at Brunswick Heads. His professionalism, expertise, and market knowledge made the entire process seamless. He kept me informed every step of the way, providing clear advice and guidance. I couldn’t have asked for a better property advisor. I highly recommend him!
The Harvest site sale in Newrybar is the second property we’ve purchased through Matthew Skene, and we’ve always been delighted dealing with him. Matthew brings great energy and professionalism, and his strategic mindset is one of his strengths — it was key to getting this transaction across the line. He’s honest, hardworking, and gets the job done with little fuss.
Matthew Skene is a consummate professional who has the ability to stay calm and focussed while negotiating at a high level. He adeptly navigates the delicate balance between advocating for his clients’ interests and maintaining positive relationships with all parties involved, whether he’s representing the buyer or seller.
We met Matthew a few years ago and were immediately impressed by his professionalism, poise, and understanding of the local area. Known for his unwavering focus and composure — especially in high-stakes negotiations — he remains a steadfast companion to us, offering support and expertise every step of the way.
Matthew recently sold our commercial property in Byron’s coveted CBD. He demonstrated all of the qualities you would expect from a seasoned real estate agent: well-connected, great negotiating skills, strong work ethic, and a clear drive to get a positive result for his clients.
Our successful Italian restaurant was approached for a lease buyout. This was all handled by Matthew on behalf of the owners, and he was also successful in including our business in the sale. If you are looking for an absolute professional in all facets of real estate, Matthew’s soft yet assertive approach to negotiation is what sets him apart.
Matthew was excellent to deal with – he responded to all of our many queries promptly, no matter what time of day it was. I found him to be both genuine and professional throughout the entire buying process. Certainly someone who is big on customer service and who operates with integrity – a breath of fresh air in the industry!
We looked for an acreage lifestyle home which could accommodate my horse. Living in Sydney we flew up to look at properties, relying on agent knowledge about the hinterland. Matthew showed us around and matched our brief with the property we ended up buying. Matthew is easy to deal with, which mattered because we were not locals.
Matthew was a pleasure to work with throughout the entire process of buying our home. No matter what, he was professional and went above and beyond to make the experience positive. We would recommend him to anyone who values honesty and integrity.
Matt provided a personalised service that allowed us to sell our house quickly and efficiently at the price we were after. We couldn’t be happier.
He exceeded our expectations with his service, communication and campaign. He took our phone calls at all times of the day and both ourselves and the purchasers thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.
Matthew was great. Really responsive, knowledgeable and attentive throughout the whole process.
Matthew is extremely personable and an all-round good guy. He’s very helpful providing local information and contacts to assist with future works.
Matthew provided great advice on all aspects of our recent purchase in the Byron hinterland.
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