Margate, Redcliffe real estate: Beachfront suburb becomes hot spot for investors

THE arrival of a major hotel chain in a shunned Brisbane beachside location, coupled with million-dollar house sale listings, proves this surprisingly undervalued and underappreciated suburb is set to boom.

The boardwalk and beachfront at Margate.

THE arrival of a major hotel chain in a shunned beachside location proves this undervalued and underappreciated suburb is set to boom.

Margate is not usually the first, second or even third suburb that rolls off the lips when people talk of visiting or living on the Redcliffe Peninsula.

You’re more likely to hear Redcliffe, Scarborough or Woody Point, but times are changing says Coronis Real estate agent Craig Rugg.

He said a major indication that Margate, seated between Woody Point and Redcliffe on the Redcliffe Peninsula, was on the march was when the Sebel hotel opened in May.

The developers behind the Sebel, on Margate Parade, are also behind the 24 three-bedroom Bathers Beachside Apartments just down the road from the 58-room waterfront hotel.

The apartments will sell for more than $900,000 each while right next door a modern four-bedroom house has an asking price of $3.1 million.

The Sebel Brisbane Margate on Margate Parade.

The house and apartments sit opposite a timber boardwalk that stretches the length of the Margate beachfront and includes barbecue, picnic and viewing shelters.

Mr Rugg said the suburb sat relatively unnoticed until developers and businesses started investing heavily and now there’s been a huge injection of confidence in the area.

“Everyone outside the area knows Scarborough and Redcliffe and for some reason Margate and Clontarf are the two least known on the peninsula,” Mr Rugg said.

“Margate, at the moment, is in a transition stage and we have just seen the introduction of Sebel hotel and it’s starting to catch up to Woody Point.”

Even the Moreton Bay Regional Council recognises the need to raise Margate’s image in light of investor confidence.

Local Councillor Koliana Winchester said the council was exploring ways to support local businesses by enhancing the local centre that was about 27km north of the CBD as the crow flies.

Margate Town Centre is just a few hundred metres from the beach.

“Council is proposing fresh new signage to create a more distinctive local brand in the centre and build Margate’s profile as a shopping destination,” she said.

“We’ve already met with the local Chamber of Commerce who have been very supportive of the initial concepts and ideas to enhance the precinct and encourage business investment into the future.”

There’s no doubt in the mind of Sebel Brisbane Margate Beach general manager Fabian Koh that Margate’s future was bright.

He said their research suggested the suburb was not yet held in the same light as more prominent neighbouring suburbs but that was just a matter of time.

“Our research showed it’s an untapped area and we wanted to explore and give it a brand,” Mr Koh said.

“It’s an upcoming area and we think it is going to be massive in the next five to 10 years.”

The hotel includes a rooftop function area and a ground level restaurant and café.

And, although it is in competition with local eateries, it has been long overdue said Seafood Lovers café co-owner Karin Van Wirdum.

Ms Van Wirdum and her husband Chris Tsianakas have owned the take away restaurant on Margate Parade for nine years and she said the suburb was showing signs of maturing.

Seafood Lovers Cafe on Margate Parade.

“We are glad the Sebel are here. It shows people are interested in the area,” she said.

“It’s a little bit overdue because it’s beautiful along here and it’s where families can swim and it’s safe.

“It makes it a hub because it was really us and the Red Dolphin (Seafoods) up the road along here... and a lot of people used to drive past but now there are more places for them to stop and enjoy an area going ahead.”

While properties along Margate Parade are at the pointy end of the real estate market, there are water views from surrounding streets that are better known as “east of Oxley”, said Mr Rugg.

That stands for east of Oxley Avenue which is the main road that runs north-south through the heart of the 2.6sq km suburb.

It’s in this area houses and land have gained momentum and screeched towards a million dollars while multi-level apartment blocks have started to sprout.

This waterfront home at Margate is on the market for $3.1 million.

“The geographic and layout of the area allows from some second and third tier streets with water views depending on levels of housing,” he said.

“It’s commonly known as east of Oxley and anything on the east is prime real estate and you are within a couple of hundred metres of the water.”

The western side of Oxley is extremely affordable for young families, especially those wanting to still be within close proximity to the beach, said Mr Rugg.

The public school catchment is Humpybong State School, on the east of Oxley, and Kippa-Ring State School.

The secondary catchment is split between Clontarf Beach State High School and Redcliffe State High School.

Just one of several viewing and picnic shelters along the boardwalk atMargate

Mr Rugg said houses west of Oxley are considerably cheaper than comparable houses on the eastern side and presented brilliant value for money in a suburb well connected by rail following the opening of the when the Redcliffe Peninsula rail line two years ago.

“Something in Duffield Rd Margate on the west side of Oxley, and I’ve sold a number around there in the very low $400,000 range, a similar property on the eastern side I’d expecting for a similar property between $500,000 and $550,000.

“If people want easier access to the city and airport its better in Margate because places like Scarborough can be problematic.”

Margate has been under the watch of developer Traders in Purple, the team that built the Sebel hotel, for more than a decade said ceo developer Brett Robinson.

He said Margate is still “undiscovered” and under developed and it’s a quiet and nice location,” he said.

“It’s been overlooked but it’s also where opportunities are coming up to develop.”