Close Menu

Jamaica Homes News

Independent Jamaican journalism worth supporting.

No algorithms. No noise. Just the stories that matter.

Trending
Advertise Subscribe Sign In
Sunday, October 11

St Mary

Middlesex County · Ian Fleming’s Jamaica
Port Maria · GoldenEye · Oracabessa · Firefly

Overview

St Mary at a glance

Area
611 km²
Population
~115,000
County
Middlesex
Capital
Port Maria
Famous
GoldenEye estate, James Bond
Key Town
Oracabessa

St Mary is a quiet, scenic parish with an outsized cultural legacy. It’s where Ian Fleming wrote the James Bond novels at GoldenEye estate, where Noël Coward built his hilltop retreat Firefly, and where the north coast transitions from tourist-heavy Ocho Rios to quieter, more authentic Jamaica.

History

The story of St Mary

Pre-1494
Taíno coastal settlements — prime fishing and agricultural land.
1655
British takeover — sugar and banana estates develop along the coast.
1800s
Port Maria is a significant banana export harbour — trade boom.
1946
Ian Fleming builds GoldenEye in Oracabessa — writes all 14 James Bond novels here.
1950s
Noël Coward buys Firefly estate at Port Maria — writes plays, hosts royalty and celebrities.
1962
Independence. Tourism begins to grow on the north coast.
2000s
GoldenEye becomes a luxury resort. Goldeneye Island Records. The parish gains artistic cachet.

Real Estate

Property market overview

St Mary offers a quieter alternative to busy Ocho Rios (St Ann) while still on the scenic north coast. Oracabessa and Port Maria have seen boutique development. Beachfront lots and hillside properties with sea views are available at more reasonable prices than St Ann.

Residential HomeJ$15M – J$50M
Beachfront VillaJ$60M – J$250M
Hillside LotJ$8M – J$35M
FarmlandJ$3M – J$12M/acre
Browse St Mary Properties →

Key Areas

Communities and neighbourhoods of St Mary

Oracabessa
GoldenEye resort, boutique bay, James Bond Beach
Port Maria
Parish capital, historic town, harbour
Annotto Bay
Commercial gateway, industrial area
Highgate
Inland market town — agricultural heartland
Robin’s Bay
Remote eco-tourism village, turtle nesting
Retreat
Quiet coastal community, fishing

Things to Do

Experiences in St Mary

GoldenEye Resort
Ian Fleming’s estate — luxury accommodation, spa, beach
Firefly
Noël Coward’s hilltop home — stunning views, museum
James Bond Beach
Public beach at Oracabessa — named for 007 connection
North Coast Drive
Scenic coastal road — views, fishing villages, seafood
River Rafting
White River and other rivers — nature excursions
Birdwatching
Quiet interior forests — endemic Jamaican species

Latest St Mary News

Live from Jamaica Homes News

Loading latest news…

View all St Mary news on Jamaica Homes →
Part of the Jamaica Homes Parish Guide · Jamaica Homes News · Jamaica Homes
jamaica-homes logo

Jamaica Homes News brings you the latest Jamaican news, property, business, tourism, development and community stories from across the island. Discover the people, places and developments shaping Jamaica today, with timely news and local insight you can trust.
Your source for the real estate news. 

JAMAICA HOMES LTD
Registered in England and Wales. Company No. 17386190.
Registered Office: 14/2E Docklands Business Centre
10-16 Tiller Road
London
E14 8PX

Email Us: admin@jamaica-homes.com

News

Company

Services

© 2026 JAMAICA HOMES LTD Registered in England and Wales. Company No. 17386190.