In 1996, a 17-year-old Daniel Johns bought a ramshackle beach house in his hometown with his first flush of Silverchair money.

And neighbours exclusively tell Daily Mail the Freak singer still uses it as a secret escape to this day.

‘You see him smoking on the balcony,’ said one resident of Merewether, a clifftop community south of the Newcastle CBD. 

‘He goes away for long periods of time – no one knows where he disappears to – but he always comes back.’

Johns, 46, is often seen walking his elderly dog Gia on the spectacular clifftops nearby.

For three decades, the Robinson Street shack was left in disrepair. However, a neighbor observed that in recent months, there has been a flurry of renovation activity at the property.

Exclusive aerial footage shows Daniel’s freshly renovated and painted beach shack

The ‘Freak’ singer is known for his quirky style and creates his own artwork

The shack he purchased in 1996 has been transformed, but the ocean views remain

Gone is the peeling paint and weather-worn decking, and in its place is a vibrant aqua and pink Palm Springs-style home.

Exclusive photos from Daily Mail showcase the new paint job, modern patio furniture, and a cactus garden at the front. Aerial shots also reveal the home’s stunning views of the renowned Merewether rock pools and the expansive ocean.

After keeping his shack under wraps for 30 years, Johns, whose band Silverchair recently had three songs in Triple J’s Hottest 100 Australian Songs, now offers it for rent at $450 per night.

For that, guests will get a unique insight into Johns’ famously quirky mind.

Graffiti-style art – which Johns himself is known to create – adorns the walls, suggesting he may have created the pieces himself.

A spray-painted guitar is hung in the hallway – with insiders suspecting it is one of Johns’ instruments.

Our pictures show the home has a new barbecue on the front deck for guests to make the most of Newcastle’s balmy summer evenings. 

Guests are welcome to bring their dogs, as the listing is pet-friendly, though smoking is prohibited—a notable rule given Johns’ longtime habit of smoking and vaping.

It’s believed the grafitti-style artwork may have been done by Daniel himself

Daniel has been making plenty of real-estate moves in his native Newcastle

The beach house is perfectly located atop a cliff in the suburb of Merewether

A Google view shows just how much work has gone into the property in recent months. Seen here before the renovations 

Merewether’s famous ocean baths are just a short walk away from the Airbnb

While Daniel’s shack retains its classic charm, the kitchen has all the modern amenities

Daniel is regularly seen by locals walking his beloved dog Gia on the clifftops nearby

Silverchair, comprising Chris Joannou, left, Ben Gillies and Daniel shot to fame in the 1990s

The two-bedroom, one-bathroom home is almost entirely booked up until the end of this year.

‘Built in the 60s, this love shack has been transformed into a rustic, colourful beachside haven,’ the listing read.

‘With all of its old character from the past, it has been styled with unique art and lush velvet couches you can sink into and watch the sunset. 

‘The outside balcony is perfect for sunbaking and having a BBQ grill, bring man’s best friend and the fam and watch the world go by.

‘After the sun has gone down, cosy up by the fireplace and share a meal with friends.’

Johns purchased the shack for $645,000 after he and his former bandmates Chris Joannou and Ben Gillies made over $6.5 million from their debut album Frogstomp.

The trio grew up in Newcastle, and until recently, Johns’ main residence was on nearby Charlotte Street.

Earlier this year, he demolished his longtime home and divided his block in two. 

He is selling one half, and building his dream home on the remaining portion.