New Gold Coast beachfront towers rise as developers bet on premium demand

The Gold Coast appears to be shrugging off the slowdown in the national property market with four new off the plan luxury projects to the tune of more than $500 million set to be launched to kick off the Spring selling season.

Sydney-based DVB has kicked off its second Broadbeach project, the $320 million Breeze, as its nearby debut project Sea Glass at Broadbeach nears completion. Breeze will be an ultra-luxury, 49-level beachfront residences at 137 Old Burleigh Road.

DVB will be joined by third generation Gold Coaster and builder-developer John Kearney who has launched his second residential beachside apartment project under its Immerse brand – the $130 million Kaiya at Kirra Beach on the southern Gold Coast.

Another multi-generational Gold Coast clan, the Nikiforides family, which has played a major role in reshaping the city’s skyline for more than 40 years, is also set to continue its legacy with plans to launch a new apartment tower fronting The Broadwater.

And relative newcomer Bastion Group is embarking on its aptly named Surfer – a $180 million apartment tower that will rise in Surfers Paradise – following on from its debut apartments Nera now under construction in Chevron Island.

Off the plan project marketing specialists Pezet Matheson say the Gold Coast is still showing signs of defying a broader slowdown as the downsizer market continues to underpin the off the plan market.

“There’s no doubt the market isn’t as frenetic as recent years but we still have a large cohort of downsizers and empty nesters who are pursuing the next phase of their lives in luxury apartment living by the beach,” said Jayde Pezet, director of Pezet Matheson.

“We’re marketing a range of projects including Breeze at Broadbeach down to Radia Rainbow Bay on the southern beaches and demand is still strong. Many of our buyers have plenty of equity and some are cash buyers downsizing from homes – that segment is certainly the major driver of the market.

“At Rainbow Bay in the last quarter we have achieved five sales totalling $44 million. Quality real estate is clearly resonating with our buyers.”

Demolition work has begun on the 34-level Breeze, designed by BDA Architects, following recent council approval and DVB Managing Director Dean Brown says the success of Sea Glass has given the company a resounding confidence to commence its second project.

“We see the Gold Coast as one of the most compelling lifestyle markets in Australia, particularly at the premium end where demand continues to deepen,” said Mr Brown.

“This project has been carefully designed to respond to that demand - delivering large-format residences with a level of quality, privacy and amenity that is still relatively rare in the apartment market on the beachside.”

“The site itself is exceptional. Old Burleigh Road is one of the most tightly held beachfront strips, and opportunities to deliver a project of this scale and calibre in this location are extremely limited

The project will comprise 40 half-floor residences of approximately 260sqm, alongside eight full-floor residences spanning approximately 524sqm.

A single penthouse will crown the building, featuring a private pool, barbecue area, indoor gym and dedicated entertaining spaces.

Residents will have access to a resort-style suite of amenities, including a 20-metre pool with daybeds, a gymnasium, hot and cold plunge pools, a sauna, and private residents’ lounge and dining facilities. 

Mr Brown said Sea Glass was now more than 50 per cent sold, under construction by Hutchinson Builders and scheduled for completion late next year.

Immerse Projects has commenced another BDA-designed project, the $130 million Kaiya Kirra Beach development,which will feature 65-apartment project plus three ground-level beach houses.

Kaiya will capture Kirra's laid-back surfing character while offering large ocean-facing balconies, a lap pool and communal recreation facilities, with a sales display opening in early September.

Kaiya will feature a broad product mix of 23 two-bedroom, 17 three-bedroom and 25 four-bedroom apartments - a spread founder John Kearney says is designed to capture both ends of the buyer spectrum rather than chase a single demographic.

“We wanted to ensure Kaiya Kirra caters to a wide variety of buyers, from owner-occupiers looking to lock in an idyllic coastal lifestyle to investors drawn to the capital growth the southern Gold Coast market has delivered in recent years, offering layouts from two- to four-bedrooms as well as beach houses,” Mr Kearney said.

“While much of the Gold Coast has transformed into a glitzy city on the beach, Kirra has remained beautifully unchanged, preserving that authentic, laid-back surfing Australiana that draws families back generation after generation.

“Our design for Kaiya aims to capture the essence of everything that we have grown to love about Kirra.

“We wanted to ensure Kaiya Kirra caters to a wide variety of buyers, from owner-occupiers looking to lock in an idyllic coastal lifestyle to investors drawn to the capital growth the southern Gold Coast market has delivered in recent years, offering layouts from two- to four-bedrooms as well as beach houses” Kearney said.

Among the key residential offerings at Kaiya Kirra Beach will be three beach houses on the ground level, each of which will have a double lock-up garage.

“The beach houses are quite unique for Kirra and provide an authentic connection to a style of housing that is disappearing fast on the Coast,” said Mr Kearney. Completion of the project is expected in late 2028.

Niecon – headed by brothers William, John and James Nikifordies – will take the wraps off its 90-apartment Reflections on The Broadwater at Biggera Waters in late September.

The company, whose family history is associated with major landmarks including The Oracle at Broadbeach and Reflections on the Sea at Coolangatta, is planning to incorporate 68 two-bedroom and 22 premium three bedroom apartments into its Broadwater project.

Bastion Group’s $180 million, 30-storey Surfer is inspired by the city’s rich history as one of the world’s iconic surfing destinations.

Located on Vista Street, draws inspiration from ther form of a surfboard, encapsulating surf culture to mark Bastion’s next Gold Coast landmark as the group expands its current development workbook beyond $500 million.

“Surfer will bring together world-class architecture, authentic surf culture and a lifestyle-driven amenity suite designed for a premium buyer seeking elevated coastal living,” said Bastion Group Founder and CEOI Alex Wood.