Demolition begins on old Burleigh Theatre Arcade to make way for 14-storey high-end tower

Several Gold Coasters are saying there is “little charm left” on the Gold Coast as demolition has begun on the controversial redevelopment of the old Burleigh Arcade. Read what is happening

Demolition on the controversial redevelopment of the old Burleigh Theatre has started, marking the end of the 1930s building. Picture Glenn Hampson

Several Gold Coasters are saying there is “little charm left” on the Gold Coast as demolition has begun on the controversial redevelopment of the old Burleigh Arcade.

Half of the 1930s building was left in rubble on Thursday morning as Sydney developer Weiya Holding’s plan’s to transform the landmark heritage building into a 14-storey high-end tower.

Titled the ‘De-Luxe Theatre’, the tower will have 46 units and will feature the original “bookend” facade at the front of the building.

Burleigh Heads property specialist for GV Property Group, Antonio Mercuri, supported the restoration and said the demolitions blended into the light rail construction.

“It will be a key piece to the rejuvenation of the area alongside beautiful and well designed projects like Norfolk and Luna,” he said.

Demolition on the controversial redevelopment of the old Burleigh Theatre has started, marking the end of the 1930s building. Picture Glenn Hampson

Demolition on the controversial redevelopment of the old Burleigh Theatre has started, marking the end of the 1930s building. Picture Glenn Hampson

“When people walk along the foreshore from interstate or overseas they will be impressed on how beautiful this stretch of beach is, while being complimented with well-designed and good looking buildings.”

Mr Mercuri said the old Burleigh Arcade housed the GV Property Group’s first headquarters from 2015 to 2017.

“The facade and frontage to Goodwin Terrace is a part of Burleigh and it is great to see this in the new project.”

Other locals and Burleigh Heads visitors weren’t as pleased, calling the redevelopment “awful”.

“There is so little charm left on the Gold Coast,” Bel Duric said.

Allan Laws said it was a “sad day” for Burleigh Heads.

“The facades will stay, but the soul is lost forever,” Phillip Oliver said.

Gold Coaster Ryan O’Neill said the developers should have just “knocked the whole lot down. The tower looks terrible with the old facade attached”.

Artists impression of the ‘De-Luxe Theatre’.

A sign attached to the front of the building said the restoration was “transforming the front ‘bookend’ into ground-floor retail and upper-level apartments, preserving essential features like brickwork, concrete elements and the arcade ceiling,” the sign said.

It said the redevelopment would “bring back” the original sign and awning details.

“In addition, a new interpretative layer is seamlessly woven into the project, narrating the buildings’ rich history and enriching the restoration journey,” it said.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

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Originally published as Demolition begins on old Burleigh Theatre Arcade to make way for 14-storey high-end tower