A Byron Bay restaurateur has died following a period of significant mental health struggles. 

Kim Stephen, creative director and co-founder of the Light Years restaurant group, died unexpectedly this month shortly after his 40th birthday.

“Today we pay tribute to the man whose spirit and creativity defined so much of who we are,” Light Years posted on social media.

“Kim was the magic, the imagination, the intuition and the spark behind everything we built. His ideas shaped our venues, our people and the experiences we share with our guests.⁠

“Kim’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to our local community for the love, kindness and support shown during this time.

“We are heartbroken to lose him, but forever grateful for the legacy he leaves and the unmistakable magic he brought to this world. ⁠”

Stephen is survived by his fiancée, Peta Van De Velde, and their 18-month-old son, Sebastian.

“Our son will grow up knowing the depth of his father’s vision and the remarkable man behind it. And, to any man fighting battles the world can’t see, I implore you to find the courage to ask for help,” Van De Velde said in a tribute shared alongside a photograph of their family.

“Kim was my partner in life and in business. We will carry on building the empire Kim started, honouring his legacy and his creative genius that shaped it,” she said.

“Kim poured heart and brilliance into everything he touched. I was and always will be in awe of his beautiful mind and the way he saw the world.”

Stephen’s path into hospitality was shaped by the influence of his brother, Ry, a pastry chef known for Supermoon Bakehouse in New York and Mr Holmes Bakehouse in San Francisco.

“Kim carried an insatiable curiosity for global cuisines, matched only by his obsession with showcasing each dish in a space worthy of its story and his vision,” Ry said.

Dozens of tributes have been shared, including from members of the Hemsworth family.

Leonie Hemsworth, mother of actors Chris, Liam and Luke, remembered him not only as a restaurateur but as a man whose “life’s passion” was music.

“Kim, known by most of us simply as China, was a beloved member of our Byron Bay community; kind, compassionate, generous, modest, all coupled with the sharpest and quickest wit,” she said.

“He was also a fantastic cook, a skilled cocktail maker and an incredibly innovative and successful restaurateur. Despite all of this, music remained his life’s passion.

“He was a brilliant DJ and many of our family’s celebrations and those of our Byron friends are memorable thanks to the music he provided.

“It was a joy to see him in his element, doing what he did best. Our dear friend China will always be remembered with love … and, thanks to him, the perfect soundtrack.”

Light Years, a well-known fixture in beachside towns along the east coast, has earned recognition in design awards. 

The restaurant group was shortlisted for the 2023 Australian Interior Design Awards in the Hospitality Design category.

The modern Asian diner first opened in Byron Bay in 2017, winning the Artedomus x The Local Project Emerging Designer Award in collaboration with Studio Plenty.

Alongside co-owners James Sutherland and Robbie Oijvall, Stephen later expanded the group to Noosa, Newcastle and the Gold Coast before opening a fifth venue in Perth earlier this year.

If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 for 24/7 help.

Images: Instagram