First look: Latest Kirra Beach, Coolangatta apartment tower

The new tower at 39-41 McLean Street, which will see more affordable stock than what's currently on offer, will rise 19 levels and home 63 apartments
First look: Latest Kirra Beach, Coolangatta apartment tower
The proposed tower by BDA Architecture. Image credit: BDA Architecture
Joel Robinson December 7, 2021

Kir​ra Beach has emerged as one of the hottest spots on the Gold Coast in the last 12 months.

There's been a number of boutique apartment projects, targeting the high-end owner-occupier market, with little in the way of more affordable stock.

The new tower at 39-41 McLean Street, which will see more affordable stock than what's currently on offer, will rise 19 levels and home 63 apartments, made up of 28 two-beds, starting from 85 sqm of internal space, and 35 three-bedroom apartments which start from 110 sqm.

To be notified when the project hits sales, enquire here.

It sits next door to the old Jazzland Dance Palais which Melbourne developer BeckDev are seeking to turn in to apartments.


BDA drew inspiration from Manhattan's Flatiron building. Image credit: BDA Architecture

Crowning the new McLean Street project will be a rooftop pool, gym, lounge and kitchen area, and indoor and outdoor dining spaces. The development will be anchored at street-level by a cafe.

BDA Architecture, who handled the design, said in their submission to the Gold Coast City Council that the attributes of the site suggest that it is an ideal location for affordable residential accommodation.

To be notified when the project hits sales, enquire here.

"The design proposal is to create a building form that accentuates the junction of McLean and Musgrave Street providing elements that welcome people to the heart of Coolangatta," the submission by lead architect Christopher Cumming read.


The tower's sculptural facade. Image credit: BDA Architecture

"The tower is inspired by the natural landforms of the Coolangatta headlands, the fluid movements of the beach, with the base informed by the existing form and scale of the McLean Street buildings but clothed with landscape of the Kirra headland.

"A palette of natural whites and darker tones combined with face brick complement and enhance the existing Coolangatta built form character. The proposed bold building form and layered facade results in a timeless expression.

"The public realm interface to the street is key to creating an enhanced pedestrian experience and bookend to the McLean Street frontage."


The proposed ground-level retail space. Image credit: BDA Architecture

The development was submitted by a company linked to John Kearney, who is a director at the Southport-based building firm Greyburn. Currently on the site is the disused surf shop, Sunhouse.

Kirra Beach has been one of the hottest markets on the Gold Coast since December last year when Miles Residences, the development by KTQ, was launched. The $450 project, part of the redevelopment of the iconic Kirra Beach Hotel, snappily sold out stage one, with future stages to be released early next year.

The quick sell-out of Joe Adsett's Rockpool by Rainbow Bay quickly followed, without any need for marketing. Marquee Developments Partners also didn't need any marketing to sell out their SOL Kirra Beach recently. 

To be notified when the project hits sales, enquire here.

Hirsch & Faigenuxury Emerson development on Musgrave Street has been in high demand, with the luxury, mostly whole-floor, development now over 60 per cent sold.

Cr​u Collective also has a luxury project around the corner, with SUR Kirra Beach apartments selling for over $4 million each.

There are a few opportunities in the pipeline though for more affor​dable apartments in the area.

Just a few doors down from the new tower will be Melbourne developer BeckDev's Palais Coolangatta, a redevelopment of the old Jazzland Dance Palais that has stood on a 2,355 sqm McLean Street site since the 1930s.

That will see175 one, two and three-bedroom apartments built, as well as resident facilities and a street-level plaza with retail space.

Also in the area on Eden Avenue will be the development by joint venture partners Steer Developments, Kingbella, and Capdev, who are seeking to build 94 apartments as well as a handful of two-storey beach houses.

Joel Robinson

Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at Urban.com.au, managing Urban's editorial team and creating the largest news cycle for the off the plan property market in the country. Joel has been writing about residential real estate for nearly a decade, following a degree in Business Management with a major in Journalism at Leeds Beckett University in England. He specializes in off the plan apartments, and has a particular interest in the development application process for new projects.

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