The Voyager: Taiwanese bubble-wrap kingpin Robert Hsu unveils 59-stoery Broadbeach tower

A Taiwanese bubble-wrap kingpin has unveiled plans for a giant beachfront supertower in central Broadbeach which will become the suburb’s tallest structure. SEE THE PICTURES

A Taiwanese bubble-wrap kingpin has unveiled plans for a giant beachfront supertower in central Broadbeach.

Robert Hsu, through his Pollycell company, has lodged plans with Gold Coast City Council to build a 59-storey tower on the site of the Voyager timeshare resort.

The existing tower would be demolished to make for the new mega structure, which would become the suburb’s tallest structure at 211m and will have 130-units containing 381 bedrooms.

Artist impression of the proposed Pollycell tower in Broadbeach.

It would stand on a 2070sq m site directly between the Oracle towers and the beach views, and is the second tower to rise in the space alongside the under-construction Luxe.

“The proposed development will revitalise the corner site, currently improved by an older development, The Voyager, and will bookend Elizabeth Ave with a development which will respect and respond to the adjoining Oracle development and the under-construction Luxe development,” said a report lodged with the council this month.

“The proposed development is providing a mix of unit typologies to provide a variety of apartment types for the tower and contribute to the mix of apartments across the city.

The Voyager timeshare building

“The inclusion of a ground floor food and drink outlet, podium landscaping and preservation of established Norfolk pines along the street frontage provides a unique opportunity for the development to enhance the activation of the immediate area and fit seamlessly into the urban fabric of Broadbeach.”

Voyager was built in 1983 by Melbourne barrister Harry Schmelling.

The report notes some of the area’s Norfolk pines would need to be removed to make way for the tower.

It will neighbour the Luxe tower.

“It is considered the remaining street trees will maintain the high-quality pedestrian environment along Elizabeth Ave as a continuation from the Oracle Development,” the report reads.

“Furthermore, the development is proposing to include an extensively landscaped/pedestrianised environment internal to the site which will further contribute the streetscape character and quality of pedestrian environment.”

The tower will become Broadbeach’s tallest structure.

Mr Hsu bought the site in 2022 for $45m in a deal brokered by Kollosche Commercial’s Adam and Tony Grbcic.

He beat out billionaires Harry Triguboff and Bob Ell, both of whom were interested in the site.

It was the last piece of an $81m spend on Broadbeach property by Pollycell following the pandemic.

The company spent $12.15m on a site fronting Britannia Ave and Surf Pde and a further $22.5m for a Queensland Ave property