Bizzy Bits: Simon Gloftis and Billy Cross offload Southport townhouses for millions, Demo Day comes to Bond Uni and more

THIS week: Simon Gloftis and Billy Cross offload Southport townhouses for millions, local design group opts for traditional marketing approach, Demo Day comes to Bond Uni and more.

A SIX-PACK of townhouses in Southport — built by a Gold Coast restaurateur and a former nightclub king — have sold, but getting clarity on the deal is far from easy.

Simon Gloftis, owner of Hellenika, last year partnered with party king Billy Cross to build six townhouses at 18 Lenneberg St, Southport with the help of Simon’s builder brother Jason. The three-bedroom residences, which are located in the exclusive TSS precinct, came with a price tag starting at $689,000. The latest State government sales list reveals that four of the townhouses sold last month for $2 million to an entity linked to Sydney investors Conrad and Andrew Romanow.

However, when BB called Simon to confirm the deal, he declined to go into detail other than to confirm that the six properties had been sold.

“It is a bit convoluted,” he said. “Not a straightforward contract.” Billy didn’t return calls so BB will just have to wait for the next list to reveal what the other two townhomes sold for and to whom.

Townhouses aren’t the only thing they’ve collaborated on — earlier this year they opened the The Star Gold Coast’s Nineteen at the Star restaurant.

Place Design Group has released The Little Big Books, a series of story books that communicate complex topics in a simple and joyful way.

A LOCAL design group is eschewing social media for its latest marketing initiative — relying on something much more traditional to get its message across.

Southport-based Place Design Group recently released The Little Big Books, a series of story books that communicate complex topics in a simple and joyful way.

The books follow the inaugural Smart Cities Week Australia event, which was held last month.

Place Design Group executive director Chris Isles says he recognised the hype that comes with topics such as smart cities and that “too often industry is caught up on the buzzword of the week without attempting to convey a comprehensive message”.

We, erm, concur.

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“We know from being on the front line of engagement with community that Australia wide we are struggling as professions to convey and communicate the opportunities and benefits of change in our cities,” Mr Isles said.

“We are trying to solve what is fundamentally a communications problem with planning, engineering and investment language, when we really just need to reframe the discussion for the audience, whether this be community, government, or industry professionals.

“Our hope is that The Little Big Books series will encourage people along on the urbanisation journey, as well as understand complex issues, which will lead to the creation of better cities and regions.”

The Smart Cities in Oz series comprises eight books explaining the concept in terms of the future of streets, parks, housing, mobility and communications.

The first two books of the series are Smart Cities — The Shake-Up (Smart Cities 101) and Smart Cities — Ready, Set, Smart … for Government.

The third book, Smart Cities — Smart Spaces, Smart Places, will be released later this month.

Clare Quinn has opened Quinn Family Law.

ONE of the Gold Coast’s leading family law solicitors has announced the launch of her own firm.

Clare Quinn (pictured) has opened Quinn Family Law — a legal practice specialising in divorce and separation.

Ms Quinn, who brings more than a decade of experience to the Bundall-based business, was formerly a senior associate at Caldwell Family Lawyers.

Ms Quinn was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2008 and the High Court of Australia in 2009.

Ramsden Lawyers litigation and dispute resolution partner Ben Twomey, LIVIN co-founder Casey Lyons and Ramsden Lawyers managing partner John Ramsden

A LEADING Gold Coast law firm has partnered with not-for-profit LIVIN to raise awareness about depression and anxiety within the business community.

The new initiative, by LIVIN and Ramsden Lawyers, is titled LIVINWell in our Workplaces. It is an offshoot of the LIVINWell program that has primarily focused on the education sector and youth. It is due to be launched on Thursday at the head offices of Ramsden Lawyers in Bundall.

A conversation between LIVIN co-founder Casey Lyons and Ramsden Lawyers managing partner John Ramsden about the issue of mental health in the workplace identified the opportunity to use the existing LIVINWell platform and tailor it to workplaces.

Mr Ramsden said he saw an opportunity to use the firm’s long-term relationship with LIVIN to assist it to engage with staff on an often-difficult topic to discuss.

“As an employer, I saw an opportunity to leverage our relationship with LIVIN to engage corporate Australia through the creation of a facilitated bimonthly breakfast forum, using their existing knowledge and expertise and combining our networks to engage employees and employers alike.”

One of the key drivers of the LIVINWell in our Workplaces initiative is Ramsden Lawyers partner Ben Twomey who lost his cousin, a fellow lawyer, to depression.

“It’s incredible to me that some of the highest-achievers are often the ones most hesitant to let you know they are having a hard time of things,” Mr Twomey said.

“My cousin’s story helped spark the conversation with John and Casey about what we could be doing for professionals.

“From there we decided that as a group we would create this forum for professionals to connect and support each other.”

Michael Metcalfe, of Kynd, will speak at this week’s Demo Day at Bond University.

THE Gold Coast’s best and brightest entrepreneurial minds will descend on Bond University on Wednesday for the fifth Gold Coast Demo Day.

This year’s version of the annual event, which provides a platform for entrepreneurs to share insights into taking ideas from concept to commercialisation, will showcase five entrepreneurial stories.

They come from AutoGuru founder Eden Shirley, Kynd’s Michael Metcalfe (pictured), Little Phil’s Josh Murchie, Frontier Pets’ Diana Scott and Pippa founder and Bond Business Accelerator alumni Lukas Wiesner.

The event starts at 6pm and will be held at the Basil Sellers Theatre on level three of the University Centre at Bond University.

The evening will conclude with a networking cocktail party, including canapés, beverages and entertainment.

Entry is complimentary, however registration is essential via the Bond website.