X Galaxy building: Surfers Paradise shopping centre to become budget hotel

A once-glamorous Surfers Paradise shopping centre will be transformed into a new development which is set to become a tourist magnet. FIND OUT MORE

A once-glamorous Surfers Paradise shopping centre will be transformed into the Gold Coast’s latest budget accommodation hotel.

The X Galaxy building, formerly known as The Galleria and the Piazza, will become a 120-bed “pod” hotel with its long-disused former shops turned into short-term accommodation.

Sitting below the Cali Beach Club, its visitors will be restricted to stays of less than three consecutive months.

The building sits on the corner of Elkhorn Ave and Surfers Paradise Blvd.

According to documents filed with Gold Coast City Council, experienced operators will be appointed to run the hotel.

“The proposed short-term accommodation will primarily cater for tourists/students seeking a comfortable and affordable stay in Surfers Paradise,” the documents read.

“Whether the visitors are tourists, on a working holiday, casual workers, or students, the proposal will offer a safe environment close to public transport, employment opportunities and learning institutions

The former Piazza building, Surfers Paradise

“By virtue of providing opportunity for tourist accommodation, the proposal is considered to encourage visitors to the Surfers Paradise centre and support the commercial intent of the area.

“The development will make the best use of an existing vacant commercial land asset, which will in turn result in the economic revival of the X-Galaxy Shopping Centre as a destination.”

The four-level complex was built in 1985 and is linked to the Mantra, formerly the Holiday Inn and ANA Hotel.

It was a popular destination through the 1980s and 1990s until the mid-90s Asian financial crisis saw it fall on tough times.

In the 2000s the Raptis Group planned to build a 63-storey supertower in its place but the project failed to eventuate after the global financial crisis.

It was purchased by a Hong Kong syndicate for $22m in 2017, with plans put forward to spend $11m revamping the complex and building a cinema, something which did not eventuate.

The project will be the latest in a series of capsule hotels which have either been proposed or opened on the Gold Coast in the past two years.

The city’s first pod hotel opened in Southport’s Nerang St in 2022.

Controversy surrounded a proposal to build a 270-bed backpacker hostel on the lower floors of the Surfers Plaza Resort.

A majority of councillors opposed the project in July 2023 but the Planning and Environment Court overturned that decision in early 2024.

A council spokeswoman said at the time the decision was made “with the consent of the parties”.

Originally published as X Galaxy building: Surfers Paradise shopping centre to become budget hotel