Gold Coast development: Old Burleigh Arcade facade to be preserved in tower transformation

A historic Gold Coast building will be redeveloped into a multi-million modern residential tower - but its famous facade will be saved. SUBSCRIBE TO SEE THE PHOTOS

THE historic Old Burleigh Arcade will be redeveloped into multimillion-dollar modern residential tower – and its famous facade will be saved.

Sydney-based Weiya Holdings last night lodged a development application with the Gold Coast City Council to build the De-Luxe apartments, a 14-storey, 36-unit complex named for the old cinema that was once housed in the arcade.

Artist impression of the De-Luxe apartments tower which will be built in the Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade

Wei Wang, head of Weiya Holdings, said it will be the first time a Gold Coast building had been adapted and reused with heritage elements.

“We have listened very carefully to the community and we are very keen to incorporate that feedback into a redevelopment honouring the cultural significance of the Old Burleigh Theatre,” he said.

Inside the ground floor.

“There is no denying that the Old Burleigh Theatre has seen a lot of change throughout its history and we believe our development is the latest chapter in that story.

“The redevelopment of this unique site comes at an ideal time. With the Gold Coast still witnessing the effects of COVID-19, De-Luxe Apartments will be a vital project that will stimulate the local economy, creating jobs both now and into the future.”

The tower will have 36 units.

Weiya Holdings bought the site for $18.5 million and in August last year announced plans for a 14-storey luxury apartment tower with a new arcade at its base.

The design was revamped after community outrage that the 1950s-era facade would be lost.

It will be next to the new light rail station.

The Queensland Heritage Council did not accept a council application for the arcade to be heritage listed on the basis that it had already been heavily redeveloped several times, most recently in 1977, and that nothing remained from the original 1930s building.

The facade as it will appear.

The new tower will feature a street-front retail arcade that retains the original “bookend” facade and will include a cafe and retail tenancies.

The corner site will have direct frontage to the Gold Coast Highway next to the planned Burleigh Heads light rail station, which will open in 2023.

It will have three levels of basement carparking.

The project will go before the council later this year.

Brisbane-based heritage architects Conrad Gargett were engaged to redesign the project to include the old arcade facade.

Andrew McLean, a town planner at Saunders Havill Group, said the concessions made for the project were unprecedented.

“The developer has made considerable concessions at great cost to meet community expectations,” he said.