Eight years after coming out of the gates, the development race is back on track for a Gold Coast tower site as the billionaire breeder of legendary mare Winx wagers $30 million to be the first to get it past the construction post.
Horse racing titan John Camilleri has taken the reins of the 1682sq m site at Main Beach and filed reworked plans for a luxury 40-storey highrise comprising 93 apartments.
In April, Camilleri—who heads up Fairway Thoroughbreds as well as the Baiada poultry empire and his family’s Celestino Developments—acquired the site from thoroughbred-loving developer and Aquis boss Tony Fung.
Fung amalgamated the holding at 3464-3468 Main Beach Parade for about $24 million in 2016 with initial plans greenlit for a $440-million, 48-storey hotel with 500-plus rooms.
It never got out of the ground and, after a failed bid to offload the site, new plans for two residential towers rising 30 and 36 storeys comprising 83 apartments were approved in late 2021.
Camilleri’s subsequent $30-million purchase of the prime Main Beach site has put its development hopes back on pace, with architecture firm DBI quickly tapped to work up the new luxury tower proposal.
The revised plans revert from the approved two-tower proposal to a single-tower scheme above a four-level podium and three basement levels.
According to the documents, the tower footprint is broadly consistent with that of the original 48-storey hotel development approval but its form “is slightly more slender in appearance, being a little more elongated (north to south) while being narrower in width (east to west)”.
Its design features a 55m facade oriented toward the beach and a grand lobby at the northern end of the prominent triangular site.
“The architectural language presents a sleek sophisticated tower form and appearance in the streetscape…[with] stylish glazed facades,” a planning report said.
Its mix of high-end two, three and four-bedroom apartments would be spread across 35 of the tower’s 40 levels.
Crowning the planned tower, a sprawling 1400sq m double-level, four-bedroom penthouse on levels 38 and 39 would include a roof terrace with outdoor kitchen, dining and lounge areas around a private swimming pool.
Communal recreation facilities atop the podium would incorporate a 17m lap pool, spa, cold plunge pool, outdoor showers, pool terrace with sunbeds, a barbecue and alfresco dining area, cabanas and lawn space along with a residents’ gym, sauna, club lounge and other amenities.
Parking spaces for 199 cars would be provided across the basement and podium levels.
“Positioned as a premier coastal development, this high-end residential tower serves as an iconic gateway to Surfers Paradise from the north,” a design statement said.
“This project epitomises the pinnacle of luxury coastal living on the Gold Coast.
“The building’s form is characterised by fluid curves and high-quality glazing, which reflects and amplifies the surrounding natural beauty, creating a seamless harmony between the tower and its environment.”
Nearby, plans have been lodged by Arena Property for a 28-storey tower comprising 72 apartments on a 1012sq m site at 47-49 Pacific Street, Main Beach.
“Overall, the proposed development presents a unique and innovative urban rejuvenation of the subject site,” the documents said.
If approved, it would replace a three-storey block of 12 flats.
The Plus Architecture-designed scheme—dubbed Bella Vie—also includes a mix of two, three and four-bedroom apartments with a penthouse occupying its top three floors, a sub-penthouse and 14 half-floor residences.
On top of the tiered three-level podium and across level 18, a combined 591sq m of communal open space is proposed—including a pool, spa, hot and cold plunge pools, sauna and sun deck, lounges, work-from-home space with a boardroom, private dining area, a gym, pilates studio and yoga deck.
On-site parking would be provided for 100 cars and 72 bicycles.
“The site benefits from an extremely unique context, being situated between two tennis courts to the north and south,” the application said.
“Both tennis courts are elevated substantially above natural ground level to accommodate car parking below.
“This interconnection both above and below ground ensures that the adjacent tennis courts will remain free from future development … providing a rare offering of expansive ocean, river and skyline views across various aspects of the site.”