Gold Coast apartments: the high life beckons with a new level of luxury

Ordinarily, Surfers Paradise and the Upper East Side of New York do not go hand in hand – but then there is absolutely nothing ordinary about a Surfers Paradise penthouse that is now on the market for $12.5 million. It’s not just the sheer size of it, although it has that in spades – nearly 1000 square metres of living, 20 private car spaces and 600 square metres of additional storage – but it’s the very essence of it that sets it apart as something distinctly unique to the Gold Coast penthouse market.

Incredibly sophisticated, polished and refined, it houses all the contemporary luxuries you would expect from a multi-million dollar penthouse, yet there is an artfulness about it reminiscent of Manhattan’s Upper East Side. From the hushed neutral tones of the interiors to the sweeping 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding hinterlands, nothing about this apartment is contrived; it is refreshingly restrained.

“I believe the penthouse is ideal for an executive couple that love to entertain, or as a holiday home for buyers that appreciate the finer things,” listing agent Michael Kollosche says of the extensively renovated apartment that is over two floors in the iconic Chevron Renaissance building. “However, because it is so special, the buyer could come from anywhere.”

Also on the Gold Coast, at Main Beach, leading prestige agent Ken Jacobs, of Christie’s International Real Estate, is marketing a boutique block of just seven apartments, designed by Virginia Kerridge. Prices range from just under $5 million to $7.5 million. “It’s the first new beachfront apartment block that’s been built for a decade in this location,” Jacobs says.

Momentum is gaining in the Gold Coast market, including the top end.

“We went through a lull and it’s now coming back,” Jacob says.  “The prestige market was affected by the GFC and the Gold Coast was hit a lot harder than some other areas and it stayed down at an artificially low price.

“But now it’s bouncing back well. A lot of it is simply the phase of the cycle we’re in, but it’s also that there’s been a lot more infrastructure put in, particularly transport, and it’s gearing up for the arrival of the Commonwealth Games next year.”

Our feature property certainly has all the qualities to attract a discerning clientele, interested in a permanent home or ultimate holiday pad in a city on the move. It is, in short, a work of art. The level of luxury is world-class but so is its sense of refinement. It’s a home with enough intimacy for one but with the capacity and facilities to host hundreds. In renovating the property, the owner has managed to create something quite beautiful, definitely opulent but with an understated elegance that allows the views take centre stage throughout.

The penthouse has an an innate sense of calm, despite its central Surfers location. On the 39th and 40th floors in tower three of the Chevron Renaissance building, it is surrounded by Surfers’ nightlife, shopping and dining, with Cavill Mall only one block away. But it is   up among the tips of the Gold Coast skyline, making it  a private sanctuary, accessed only by pin code.

And a very spacious sanctuary at that. The living space includes formal and informal dining, entry lounge, sitting room, drawing room and main lounge. There is also an open-plan office, separate study nook and fully sound-proofed media room complete with tiered cinema seating and surround sound.

Subtle luxury is woven into the fabric of the property and in the living rooms it sits unobtrusively in the walls: set along the length of the main living space and into the foyer are several floor-to-ceiling temperature-controlled wine fridges, including a fully stocked wine bar and temperature-controlled cigar box.

In the kitchen (and butler’s kitchen behind it), are marble benchtops that stretch for days, multiple Miele ovens, including a steam oven, built-in coffee machine and soft-close cabinetry. Then there’s the unexpected, such as the fridge doors and dishwashers that only open when you knock on them.

As with all the best penthouses, this property includes a rooftop terrace but this takes outdoor living, literally and figuratively, to the next level. Accessible by an internal lift and staircase, the space is set both indoors and outdoors via banks of glass sliding doors.

First of all, there is the view. Wide, sweeping and spectacular, the terrace takes in the Gold Coast’s northern beaches and then the south, stretching right down to Coolangatta. As for the entertaining capacity, it’s fully catered for and then some. Inside, an entertainment area featuring a pool table and large, fully stocked bar overlooks a teppanyaki bar with seating for 10, as well as an open-air terrace with vertical garden and views out to the river. Further along, a fully equipped gym including glassed steam room and lockable temperature-controlled weights room all enjoy panoramic views of the ocean.

“It can only be described as a penthouse where elegance and sophistication meets world-class prestige living,” says Kollosche. 

Three of the best

3250/23 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise

$12.5 million

This double-storey apartment, covering 918 sqm internally, is the epitome of luxury of elegant modern design. The skyhome, created over two years, features limed-oak parquetry floors and tall pivoted doors. A formal dining room comfortably seats 12 and there is an adjoining cigar and wine-tasting area. The master bedroom rivals the interior of a top international hotel and includes a marble ensuite and raised bath podium. Multiple living and sitting areas face east to ocean or to the city skyline with a semi-open office area at the northern end of the vast apartment in the Chevron Renaissance. 

For sale by negotiation

Four bedrooms, five bathrooms, 21 car spaces

Michael Kollosche, Kollosche Prestige Agents 0411 188 815

M3565, 3565 Main Beach Parade, Main Beach

$4.95 million-$7.5 million

Comprising just seven apartments, the new boutique apartment building M3565 has views over one of the Gold Coast’s most stunning beaches. Six of the apartments are now for sale off the plan, with the one on level five (267sqm internally, with 65sqm of open balcony space) selling for $7.5 million. The proportions, and price, of the double-storey penthouse, with its own pool, haven’t yet been set. The level 5 apartment has Venetian sliders to the balconies that make it feel it’s almost floating on the sky and ocean.

Expressions of interest

Four bedrooms, four bathrooms, two car spaces

Ken Jacobs, Christie’s International Real Estate 0407 190 152

6401/8 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise

$7.35 million

This double-storey penthouse in a prime position in Surfers Paradise has a stunning designer style. The property, in the Peppers Soul complex, has top views along the coast and through to the hinterland. Finishes are of the highest order and include limestone floors and Gaggenau appliances. Spread out over 363 sqm over two levels the apartment also features generous balconies, perfect for relaxing and taking in the view. 

For sale by negotiation

Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, two car spaces

Rob Patis, Mantra Group Realty 0400 700 700