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Spirit is an 89-storey apartment tower currently selling off-the-plan on the Gold Coast. Rising 303 metres into the air, Spirit is expected to include 479 residential dwellings, in a range of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments. There’s also a 1,800 sqm, $41.2 million, four bedroom penthouse on offer if you’ve got a touch more cash to splash.
The rooftop level will offer access to panoramic views of the 52 kilometres of coastline, with butlers available to individual apartments upon request. Besides the exclusive rooftop pool, there are two additional levels of communal facilities as well as a luxury retail and Michelin Star restaurants across the bottom four levels of the building.
UPDATE JANUARY 2020: The Spirit site has been bought by a consortium operating through trustee company 3 Trickett Street. The ownership of company 3 Trickett Street is primarily held by the Loi family and, according to company records, includes Chinese billionaire Riyu Li, one-time investor in the three-tower Jewel beachfront project south of Surfers Paradise, with 10 per cent.
Spirit is now expected to be going ahead again. Roland Evans, at Canford Estate Agents, said the new owners intended to develop the planned 89-floor tower but changing the interior design and layout to incorporate a luxury-brand hotel. We will update this review as more information is released to the market.
UPDATE AUGUST 2019: Spirit Apartments is no longer going ahead.
This project is no longer proceeding at this stage and the apartments in Spirit are no longer available for sale
If you’re searching for a new Gold Coast with luxury finishes and excellent water views, Mali Residences in Mermaid Beach is another off-the-plan development that is worth enquiring into. This luxury waterfront development consists of a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. With Pratten Park the only thing separating Mali and the beach, these ocean views will never be built out. Mali Residences is a project by Australian developer Dankav, who have a long history of successful residential projects on the Gold Coast. Apartments at Mali Residences start from $465,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and construction is expected to start before the end of 2019.
The exterior of Spirit Surfers Paradise has been designed to reflect the rolling ocean waves and shifting sand of the coastline. The building is reinforced and precast concrete with glazed balustrades and windows. The shape of the building means the shapes of the apartments and balconies vary throughout the building, even throughout apartments of the same floor-plan.
The tower is estimated to cost $1.2 billion is expected to pump $1.84 million into the local economy during construction. The project, which targets international, local and interstate investors and downsizers, is being marketed by Ray White Surfers Paradise Group’s Julian Sutherland.
“Projects such as these profoundly demonstrate that the Gold Coast has arrived as a world-leading tourism and lifestyle destination in the midst of some $30 billion in public and private development,” he said.
If you discount the spire on top of Q1, Spirit will be the tallest residential building in Queensland upon completion. Construction has already begun on the site and completion is expected in 2020. The development will also include 5 podium levels, which will include boutique retail and dining options. Under that, you have 6 levels of basement car parking.
The 1899m² penthouse occupies the top two levels of the building. This four bedroom, five bathroom ‘skyhome’ is the most luxurious apartment not only on the Gold Coast but throughout the entirety of Queensland. If sold at the advertised price of $41.2 million, it will be the most expensive single residence ever sold in the state.
Surfers Paradise is the social, cultural and entertainment hub of the Gold Coast. As a result of the 300+ sunny days per year that attracts people to the Gold Coast, the dining and entertainment options outshine anywhere else on the coast. The area is very popular with tourists and offers of a “holiday” lifestyle through and through. Spirit is located at 3 Trickett St, Surfers Paradise, only 100m to the beach. Spirit sits on the beachfront, just behind the ANZAC Memorial square and Laws and Hamilton Park, meaning the views out to the ocean will never be compromised by additional development.
Cavill Lane shopping precinct is only 500m from Spirit Surfers Paradise and offers a range of retail therapy options. Along The Esplanade, you’ll also find weekly beachfront markets which are definitely worth checking out. There’s also plenty of hotels nearby for any family or friends that come to visit.
Looking a little further afield, the Gold Coast Convention Centre is only 2.8km from Spirit and can be accessed easily via the Gold Coast Highway. The Star casino is just a touch further at 3.3km away but can still be accessed within a 10-minute drive during non-peak times. Traffic around the streets of Surfers is notoriously busy, and street parking can be very difficult, especially on weekends. The Gold Coast Highway can be quite a loud strip, but with Spirit located right on the beachfront, residents likely won’t hear any significant traffic noise.
In terms of local schools, Surfers Paradise State School is only situated 5 minutes away. St Vincent’s Primary School is Surfers Paradise is a great option if you’re looking for a non-government private school. In terms of secondary schools, Spirit’s location put it within the catchment area for Benowa State High School, which is a 12-minute drive away. The prestigious Bond University is only 16 minutes away from Spirit Surfers Paradise, heading north up Southport Burleigh Road.
The owners will also have access to the exclusive rooftop, with yet another pool, floating lounge area and bar which is only accessible for residents of Level 57 and above. There are two further floors which also offer recreational facilities including two more pools, two gyms, two exclusive-use lounge bars, a day spa, sauna, and steam room.
Additional luxury pay-per-use services will be available to residents, including car washing and detailing, babysitting, newspaper deliveries, pet vacation care and grooming. Butlers will be available to individual apartments upon request, as well as personal grocery shopping and flower arrangement deliveries.
On Levels 1 – 4 of Spirit, you’ll find a 3530 square-metre retail precinct with Michelin Star restaurants and high-end designer boutiques. Spirit also offers an in-house car detailing service, babysitting, pet vacation care, butlers and personal grocery shoppers.
In the six levels of secure car parking, you’ll find 34 retail parks and 52 visitor car spaces as well as 30 car parks that are reserved as part of the valet service. In addition to the already allocated spaces, there are 134 car parks that are available for sale separately.
The one bedroom, one-bathroom apartments at Spirit start at 91m², which is larger than quite a few of the two-bedroom apartments currently for sale on the Gold Coast. The one-bedroom apartments also offer a two bathroom option, which ups the size to 100m². Of the two-bathroom apartments, the smallest is 125m² with three bedrooms starting at 174m². Of the more elaborate apartments (with minimum prices of $14.255million), the four-bedroom apartments have floor spaces of over 497m². The two sub penthouses are over 1,000m² each and of course, the penthouse offers 1899m² of space to frolic.
Situated on Level 86 and 87, the penthouse offers a bespoke design, with a completely customisable floor plan which can cater to the buyer’s wildest dreams. The penthouse is guaranteed to offer its own full-sized pool and expansive outdoor entertaining area, as well as a balcony which wraps around the entire eastern side of the building, providing unparalleled views out over the ocean.
Each apartment offers oversized living spaces and large balconies. Cross breezes for all apartments at Spirit Surfers Paradise is expected to be excellent, due to the floor-to-ceiling glass doors extending out from the living room and the bedrooms.
The penthouse, sub-penthouse and four bedrooms “super apartments” have all been designed so buyers who are downsizing from large free-standing homes don’t have to compromise on space.
Each apartment is designed with a very light colour palette of primarily crisp whites, pine and light marble, keeping the look and feel light and airy between every room.
Floor plans are not currently available for Spirit Surfers Paradise.
The flooring is wooden throughout the living spaces and the bedrooms. Complemented by soft-close wooden cabinetry, this natural wooden flooring look gives the apartments a coastal feeling. Each apartment also has a kitchen island, with the large apartments also having a breakfast bar. The splashbacks, benches are (of course) finished with marble. In the bathrooms, this light marble motif continues with floor-to-ceiling feature tiles. Many of the larger apartments also offer a large, statement free standing bath and bathrooms with dual-sinks. Air conditioning is ducted throughout the apartments.
Spirit Surfers Paradise is backed by Chinese development giant Fuhua Group and is being developed by their Australian arm, Foriseland. They hold a Chinese first-class property developing certificate and have developed towers around the world. Spirit is their debut Australian project.
The tower is designed by Australian-based company DBI. As well as projects in Syndey, China, Abu Dhabi, Taiwan, Vietnam the majority of their project are located in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Previously on the coast, DBI has worked on projects such as Oracle at Broadbeach, The Wave, Soul, Soilel and Palazzo Versace. DBI also designed Jewel.
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