Gold Coast properties jewels in crown for Chinese billionaire Riyu Li and family

HE’S the Chinese billionaire best known to Gold Coasters for his company’s involvement in the mega beachfront development Jewel— but his secret passion is our Hinterland.

HE’S best known to Gold Coasters for his company’s involvement in the mega beachfront development Jewel but to Tallebudgera Valley locals, he’s the king of the mountain.

Billionaire Chinese developer and Ridong Group founder Riyu Li, his sons Tianwei (Baron) and Tianming (Tony) Li and their associated companies have quietly acquired some of the most beautiful properties in the green behind our gold — Tally Valley.

The view from the top of the 162.5 hectare property at 142 Ryans Road, Tallebudgera Valley, bought for $3.5 million in 2015 by Mr Riyu Li's company Macroland Southport Pty Ltd. Picture: Core Logic.

While Ridong Group sold its remaining 45 per cent share of Jewel to Yuhu Group for an estimated $260 million in February, the Li family still has large landholdings throughout the city — much of it in the city’s strongest performing suburb, Tallebudgera Valley.

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A Real Estate Institute of Queensland market monitor report shows median house prices in Tally Valley jumped 30.9 per cent to $1.08 million during the past 12 months.

Wirlinga Park at 829 Tallebudgera Creek Road, Tally Valley.

Locals say the jewel in the crown of the Li family’s substantial holdings in Tally Valley is the 162.5 hectare property at 142 Ryans Rd their company Macroland Southport Pty Ltd bought for $3.5 million in January 2015.

Home to a farmer’s/caretaker’s house, a mega 650k litre rainwater tank and a $600,000 industrial-sized shed with 20k solar system, the property’s peak boasts spectacular views north to Brisbane and south to Mt Warning and beyond.

Tony Li and his father Riyu Li on the Gold Coast. The chairman of Ridong Group, Riyu Li moved his family to Australia in 2000.

The farmer’s cottage and shed sit on a four-acre clearing not far from the rural-zoned property’s summit — part of Tallebudgera Mountain — with enough space for a helicopter to land.

Another of the Li family companies, Macroland Tallebudgera Pty Ltd, paid $3.95 million in January 2015 for another coveted haven in the valley — the 105.79ha cattle farm Wirlinga Park on Tallebudgera Creek Rd.

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The 162.5 hectare property at 142 Ryans Road, Tallebudgera Valley, has a $600,000 shed and a 650k litre rainwater tank. Picture: Core Logic

Touted as one of the best acreage properties in south east Queensland, the fully fenced lot is a generally untouched parcel currently used for grazing cattle.

Comprised of two titles, both of which have nominated house sites, Wirlinga Park has been listed for sale since July with Premier Real Estate Agents, who are marketing it as “Unique Opportunity to Create a Private World Class Estate”.

Bellagio La Villa at 109 Tallebudgera Connection Road. Supplied

Mr Li also owns a large parcel along Tallebudgera Creek Rd near the corner of Tallebudgera Connection Rd, at the heart of which sits the grand Bellagio La Villa — a 2546sq m home with 10 ensuited bedrooms, several living areas, a library, media and music rooms, gym, indoor pool and spa.

The house sits on 14.93ha at 49 Tallebudgera Connection Rd, bought for $6.2 million in January 2014.

176 Tallebudgera Creek Road, Tallebudgera. Picture: Core Logic

The property now forms part of Mr Li’s amalgamated lot comprised of:

Three hectares at 109 Tallebudgera Connection Rd bought for $1 million in January 2014;

13.37ha at 178 Tallebudgera Creek Rd bought for $2.8 million in February 2014;

9.73ha at 186 Tallebudgera Creek Rd bought for $2.8 million in February 2014;

6.52ha at 176 Tallebudgera Creek Rd, with a four-bedroom house, bought for $1.78 million in December 2014.

Bellagio La Villa in Tallebudgera Valley.

Baron Li also owns multimillion-dollar homes at Broadbeach Waters and Mermaid Waters. The Mermaid Waters home, bought for $3.25 million in September 2017, sits on a double block next door to a waterfront property bought for $1.38 million in December 2017 by another company linked to the Li family — Tian Yi Group Pty Ltd.

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Tian Yi Group Pty Ltd settled its purchase of a 12ha sugar cane farm at Eagleby Rd, Eagleby, for $830,000 in July and recently snapped up a 220ha site for an undisclosed sum at 98-196 Guanaba Road on Tamborine Mountain.

The site’s previous owner had hoped to turn it into a world-class mountain bike park, rainforest zip-lining, rock climbing and high ropes activities attraction to be called The Guanaba Experience but was unable to raise funds to proceed.

Surfers Royale building on 7 Northcliffe Terrace, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast.

Macroland One Pty Ltd is also amalgamating blocks for a potential redevelopment site on Chevron Island, acquiring numerous properties in Parnoo St and a neighboring lot in Stanhill Dr since 2015.

The Li family’s Macroland Two Pty Ltd also owns the 14-level, 44-apartment Surfers Royale building on the beachfront at 7 Northcliffe Terrace, Surfers Paradise, which it acquired for $22.37 million in September 2015 while Ridong (Australia) International Pty Ltd also retains four lots at Ephraim Island.