Waterfront living on the Gold Coast has just gotten a whole lot easier
New development Harbour Shores offers buyers low-maintenance luxury living with a boat on their doorstep.
Gold Coast developer Lewis Land has spent four decades envisioning a marina for residents on the city’s north shore.
Now, the team behind Sovereign Islands and Ephraim Island is seeing that legacy realised with the unveiling of a 70-berth private marina at Harbour Shores, its new masterplanned community at Biggera Waters.
The marina, located 2.5km from the Broadwater, forms the centrepiece of The Waterline precinct – 71 luxury apartments and villas designed with direct canal access.
Offering boat owners a seamless route from their private berth to open water, it will accommodate vessels up to 12m.
“The private marina rounds out the resort-style amenity we’re creating at Harbour Shores and provides access to that extra level of lifestyle that downsizers are looking for,” Lewis Land chief executive Brett Draffen says.
The April issue of Mansion magazine is out in The Australian today
The Waterline apartments feature low-rise architecture and a palette of timber and stone, with floor-to-ceiling windows for water or parkland views. Amenities includes a private pool, rooftop terraces, a residents’ clubhouse, and a gym, yoga studio and sauna.
The premium offering includes three double-storey sky homes with internal areas up to 367sq m. Each features a rooftop terrace, butler’s pantry, multiple living zones and 3m ceilings. Prices start from $3.65m.
“The Gold Coast remains an incredibly popular area for downsizers,” Draffen says. “Lifestyle is everything.
“At the prestige end of the market, downsizers aren’t looking to compromise on space. They still want generously sized homes, they just don’t want the upkeep associated with them. That’s where the liveability of an apartment is maximised by on-site amenities.”
For boat owners, the ability to moor close to home has proved compelling. Nearly 40 per cent of buyers have nominated the marina as the most important lifestyle aspect, alongside access to the Broadwater.
“The opportunity to step out of your home and onto your boat is the ultimate luxury,” Draffen says. “So having the ability to ‘lock and leave’ and explore the Broadwater on your boat, or plan or a day trip to South Stradbroke Island, has incredible appeal.
“There simply aren’t enough marina berths on the Gold Coast for boaties, let alone ones that you can access from your home. Even people who don’t own a boat appreciate that it’s a lifestyle option for them in the future.”
The berths will be sold separately via an expression-of-interest process, with pricing to be released in May. At least two berths will be managed by the body corporate to provide access to the community park and on-site dining.
Colliers director residential Rachel Hutson says the project has attracted strong interest from local waterfront owners looking for new, low-maintenance living while retaining access to the lifestyle they’re accustomed to. She says a survey of buyers revealed that lifestyle and access to amenity – both within the development and in its immediate surrounds – were top priorities.
“Other important considerations that come up often are size and space,” she says. “This is not necessarily just having a larger apartment, but having an apartment that is cleverly designed to maximise liveability, and inclusion of dedicated car parking and storage.”
Survey respondents also highlighted the value of the 1ha waterfront park and a 1.2km boardwalk that connects green space, marina and dining. “Availability of marina berths has been a drawcard for some purchasers, particularly those downsizing from existing waterfront homes in the area. They see the benefit in being able to keep their boat nearby for quick access to the Gold Coast waterways,” Hutson says.
Figures from consulting firm Urbis show the supply of new apartments on the Gold Coast hit record lows last year, with the northern corridor making up only 5 to 6 per cent of current stock.
This story is from the April issue of Mansion magazine, out on Friday, April 25.
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