Harry Triguboff said his Ocean Tower at Surfers Paradise will be his showpiece project of 2018

HIGH-rise king Harry Triguboff says he will be selling the high life, literally, when he starts marketing his giant beachfront Ocean tower on the Gold Coast next month.

An artist's impression of Meriton's Ocean Tower at Surfers Paradise. Photo: Supplied

HIGH-rise king Harry Triguboff says he will be selling the high life, literally, when he starts marketing his giant beachfront Ocean tower on the Gold Coast next month.

The veteran developer yesterday gave the lowdown on the 74-floor Surfers Paradise tower — apartment buyers would only be able to buy from level 45 and above.

The lower floors would be devoted to hotel suites trading under Mr Triguboff’s Meriton brand.

Mr Triguboff said Ocean, on which construction started in May, would be his iconic project of 2018.

“It will be my 19th tower on the Gold Coast and by far my most ambitious — you’re never too old to have ambition.

“In my judgment it’s going to be an absolute winner.

“There’s nothing like it on the Surfers beachfront — it’s got everything and every apartment will have unobstructed ocean views.

“I’d equate Ocean to a city within a city, with its own leisure facilities, beach club, supermarket, shops, restaurants, and a childcare centre.”

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An artist's impression of Meriton's Ocean Tower at Surfers Paradise. Photo: Supplied

Mr Triguboff said he expected Ocean to have the Surfers beachfront market virtually to itself.

“The banks have made it impossible for Australian developers to contemplate a beachfront project of any scale.

“The Chinese won’t be able to compete (with Ocean) on price with their Spirit tower, even if it gets going.

“In fact, we expect Chinese buyers to head the Ocean way and take a third of our apartments.”

No price has been put on the Ocean high life — prices are to be released ahead of the project’s launch next month.

Ocean, which will top out at 252 metres, will accommodate more people than any building on the Gold Coast.

It is to have 262 apartments and 446 hotel suites and is being undertaken on a 3833 sqm site at 84 The Esplanade.

Artist's impression of Meriton's new tower, Ocean, in Surfers Paradise

The site, which backs on to the Gold Coast Highway, housed the International Beach Resort, formerly the Apollo building, when it was bought for $58 million in a deal that settled in March.

Meriton says the Ocean apartments, some with studies, will range from two-bedroom layouts with floor areas of up to 89 sqm through to three-bedroom designs averaging 120 sqm.

It says five top-floor penthouses will have floor areas of up to 203 sqm.

Meriton is promising a fast trip to the Ocean high life for buyers and guests — it says high-speed smart lifts will race up the tower from the grand lobby.

The tower will have three levels of basement and will sit on a five-level podium, with the top level housing a recreation area that will include a 22-metre pool, spa, fitness courtyard, and barbecue area. An indoor pool also will be included on level 33.