Gold Coast development: Ex-car dealer Bill Linn emerges with 75 per cent stake in Southbreak companies

A veteran Kiwi entrepreneur has emerged as a major behind-the-scenes player in plans for an apartment tower in one of the city’s beachfront hotspots, Kirra.

A VETERAN Kiwi entrepreneur who’s ventured into everything from caryards to motels discreetly is doing a spot of ‘Triguboff’ on the Gold Coast.

Bill Linn has emerged as a major behind-the-scenes player in plans for an apartment tower in one of the city’s beachfront hotspots, Kirra.

It’s not his first foray into the area – he also was a key figure in boutique North Kirra building Southbreak.

In fact, the genial Bill has been in the background in other multi-level apartment developments, including as dominant partner in the Stanhill project on Chevron Island.

Bill Linn has a 75 per cent stake in the company behind the Southbreak building in North Kirra.

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And why the reference to Harry Triguboff, Australia’s apartments king?

It’s because aspiring high-rise developer Bill, like High-Rise Harry, is in his 80s, albeit four years younger than the 87-year-old Sydney developer.

The Linn Kirra forays both involve a partner less than half Bill’s age.

Artist impression of a tower planned by Bill Linn for Kirra.

Artist impression of a tower planned by Bill Linn for Kirra.

Adam Lacey, 41, is one of the new-age developers who have emerged on the Gold Coast since the GFC and he’s been running his own company, the Lacey Group, since 2016.

In the case of Southbreak and the proposed new Kirra tower, Bill has 75 per cent stakes in the companies behind the projects.

The Kiwi, who arrived on the Gold Coast in 1983 and lives at Hope Island, is no property novice.

Bill Linn bought this Surfers Paradise mansion for $7.5 million.

His business interests include Urbane Homes, which develops estates at Brisbane and Ipswich and delivers house-land packages.

The Taranaki-born investor was in the car game before crossing the Tasman – his family was the oldest GM dealer in New Zealand and the first to sell Holdens, back in 1951.

His years in Queensland have seen him own caryards on the Gold Coast, hold management rights, own three motels at Caboolture, develop property at Hervey Bay, and build yachts.

The only time his name has appeared in the Bulletin in the new millennium was in August, when he paid $7.5 million for a riverfront Surfers Paradise mansion.

Adam Lacey of the Lacey Group.

The Linn-Lacey project at Kirra is dependent on planning approval.

The partners have put-and-call options on the three properties involved, which are 7 to 11 Miles Street, one block back from the beach, and span 1524sq m.

The 13-floor building would have 72 two and three-bedroom apartments, a pool within the top floor, and two basements.

It’s been designed by Melbourne’s Plus Architecture, whose Gold Coast credits include the rising Luna at Burleigh Heads and Pacific Palm Beach.

Plus, imbued with an affinity with the ocean, says the Kirra tower’s design has been ‘inspired by the rhythm and movement of rolling waves’.

The Linn-Lacey team will be hoping, if the tower is given a favourable ‘wave’ by the city council, that the apartments will roll out the door.