The Southern Gold Coast Apartment Boom: A Suburb-by-Suburb Guide

Status: Active — dozens of projects under construction, approved, or in planning Key hotspots: Robina, Burleigh Heads, Burleigh Waters, Varsity Lakes, Coolangatta

Introduction

The southern Gold Coast is experiencing one of the most concentrated periods of apartment construction in its history. Driven by an acute housing shortage, strong interstate migration, the approaching 2032 Olympics infrastructure pipeline, and the structural shift of east coast buyers relocating to lifestyle-driven coastal addresses, the corridor from Robina to Coolangatta now has well over $5 billion of residential development in planning, approved, or under construction.

This article maps the significant projects by suburb — what's being built, by whom, for how much, and when it's expected to complete.

Robina: The Development Epicentre

Robina — already the southern Gold Coast's commercial and transport hub — is seeing its residential market transform. Multiple projects are underway or approved, ranging from boutique luxury apartments to large masterplanned communities.

Cascade — 116 Laver Drive

- Developer: Andrews Projects (family-owned, Gold Coast) - Cost: $270 million - Status: Under construction / selling now - Description: Twin 15-level towers on a 1.1-hectare masterplan. Resort-style amenities including a 25m magnesium pool, spa, cold plunge pool, gym, yoga studio, sauna and steam rooms. - Pricing: 2 bed from $1M; 2 bed + study from $1.32M; 3 bed from $1.58M; penthouses from $1.95M

Ombré Robina — 46 Scottsdale Drive

- Developer: Immerse Projects / Greyburn Building Contractors - Cost: Undisclosed - Status: Well under construction — completion: Autumn 2026 - Description: 8-storey mixed-use, 95 apartments (1, 2, and 3-bedroom) plus integrated retail and commercial spaces. Located on one of the last remaining sites within the Robina Town Centre precinct. Some apartments priced below $750,000 for first home buyers.

Robina Grand Residences — 1 Waterfront Place

- Developer: Greyburn Building Contractors - Status: Completed. 90%+ sold; $50M+ in sales achieved. - Description: 69 apartments + 4 townhouses across 8 levels. Resort facilities including pool, gym, pilates/yoga room.

300 Build-to-Rent — Robina Stadium Drive

- Developer: Sentinel (with planning by Urbis) - Status: Approved - Description: 9-storey build-to-rent development, 41,799m2 of rental accommodation. Adjacent to Cbus Super Stadium, Robina Train Station, and Bond University Institute of Health & Sport. Sustainability-focused.

Lakesview Robina — Walker Corporation (Major Masterplanned Community)

- Developer: Walker Corporation (one of Australia's largest private developers) - Status: State-facilitated development — planning underway; Preliminary Approval Application submitted to increase dwellings from 1,500 to 2,750 - Description: 2,750 homes including approximately 550 affordable homes. 50+ hectares of open space. 15 hectares of lakes and wetlands. Pedestrian and cycle network with direct connectivity to Robina Train Station and Robina Town Centre. - Impact: The single largest residential project in Robina. The Queensland Government fast-tracked approval under its State Facilitated Development program given the acute housing shortage.

Pipeline Sites in Planning (Robina Town Centre area)

Multiple sites are in planning or pre-construction phases: - 5–13 Robina Town Centre Drive - 13 Robina Town Centre Drive - 26–28 Ben Lexcen Place - 228–236 Highfield Drive - 172–182 Highfield Drive - 1 Glades Drive - 34–38 Glenferrie Drive

Burleigh Heads: The Premium Epicentre

Burleigh Heads has become the Gold Coast's most coveted lifestyle address — and its development market reflects that. The combination of beachside location, village atmosphere, and the approaching light rail terminus is generating an extraordinary concentration of premium and ultra-premium residential projects.

Mondrian Hotel & Residences — 48 The Esplanade

- Cost: $450 million - Status: Under construction - Description: Two-tower development — 208-room 5-star Mondrian Hotel + 89 luxury residential apartments. The Mondrian brand brings international five-star hospitality to Burleigh Heads for the first time, anchoring the suburb as a premium destination.

Burly Residences — 264–268 The Esplanade, North Burleigh

- Developer: DD Living (David Devine) - Cost: $510 million - Status: Under construction (demolition complete; main construction underway) - Description: 25-level tower, 101 apartments (2, 3, and 4-bedroom). Double beachfront site with 40m ocean frontage. Two levels of six-star resort amenities. Interiors by Mim Design; architecture by Koichi Takada (known for his organic, nature-inspired designs).

One Burleigh — 88 The Esplanade

- Developer: MAYD / Formplus - Status: Under construction — completion: Summer 2026 - Description: 16 full-floor ultra-luxury residences (4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, 3 car spaces each). Designed by MAS Architecture Studio. Approximately 50% sold. - Pricing: $8.85 million to $15 million+

Gurner — 1929 Gold Coast Highway

- Developer: Gurner / MaxCap Group - Cost: $150 million - Status: Council approved - Description: 18-level boutique building, 55 apartments on a 1,017m2 site.

Morris Property Group — 1873 Gold Coast Highway

- Developer: Morris Property Group - Status: Development application submitted - Description: 25-storey residential apartment block (2 and 3-bedroom apartments), 4 levels underground parking. This is MPG's fifth proposed development in Burleigh Heads.

Burleigh Waters: The $2 Billion Transformation

Burleigh Waters Masterplanned Precinct

- Cost: $2 billion - Status: Civil infrastructure commenced July 2024 — first residential buildings launching mid-2026 - Description: 14 acres (5.66 ha) of waterfront land being transformed into a major mixed-use urban village. The approved masterplan allows: - ~1,500 apartments and townhomes - Up to 3,736 bedrooms - Buildings up to 43 metres (approx. 14 storeys) - Retail market square - Medical centre - Childcare - Aged care village - Commercial office space - Public waterfront parklands - Impact: One of the largest developments in the southern Gold Coast by total value. Transforms an underutilised waterfront site into a self-contained urban village.¹

Varsity Lakes: Affordable Mid-Market Supply

Cienna Varsity Ridge Stage 2 — Homecorp Property Group

- Developer: Homecorp Property Group (Ron Bakir) - Cost: $250 million - Status: Under construction — completion: early 2027 - Description: Two towers (12 and 14 storeys), 289 apartments (1, 2, and 3-bedroom). Located between Bond University and Robina Town Centre. DA approved by Gold Coast City Council in late 2024.² Stage 2 launched in June 2025 with over 40% sold in the first weekend. The project sold out entirely and was ranked the top-selling apartment project in Australia for Q3 2025, outperforming 161 projects across Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast.³

COMO — Varsity Lakes (New — Construction Commencing Q1 2026)

- Developer: Red & Co. + 5Point - Units: 156 - Status: Construction commencing Q1 2026⁴ - Description: Lakeside mixed-use development of 156 boutique apartments (1, 2, and 3-bedroom) on a 2,857sqm site acquired for $8 million.⁵ Expansive views over Lake Orr and out to Burleigh Headland. Positioned to address the area's acute housing shortage.

Aura Apartments Stage 2 — Alder Developments

- Status: Under construction - Description: Second stage of lakefront Aura Apartments complex.

Northcliffe / Surfers Paradise: Major New Entrants

Palmera — 18 Garfield Terrace, Northcliffe

- Developer: Central Equity - Builder: Multiplex (Tier 1) - Cost: $1 billion - Status: Construction commenced (February 2026)⁶ - Description: 52-level luxury residential tower. A significant addition to the Gold Coast skyline, with Central Equity appointing one of Australia's leading construction firms to deliver the project.

Florence Residences — Monte Carlo Avenue, Surfers Paradise

- Developer: Homecorp - Cost: $210 million - Status: Council approved; early site works commenced late 2025; full construction expected to kick off early 2026 — anticipated completion: late 2027⁷ - Description: 25-storey tower on Monte Carlo Avenue. Homecorp's entry into the Surfers Paradise high-rise market, running concurrently with its Varsity Lakes activity.

Coolangatta: Southern Endpoint Renewal

Kirra Beach Hotel Redevelopment — KTQ Group

- Developer: KTQ Group - Cost: $380 million - Status: Approved — Stage 1 estimated completion 2025 - Description: Three-stage redevelopment of the Kirra Beach Hotel site. Stage 1: 15-storey tower, 200 residences. Stage 2: 10-storey residential tower. Stage 3: boutique hotel. Major urban renewal of the Kirra/Coolangatta foreshore.

Esprit Residences — 6432 Boundary Street

- Developer: S&S Projects - Status: Under construction/nearing completion (est. 2025) - Description: 72 apartments across 12-storey and 8-storey buildings. Follows developer's sell-out of $74M Flow Residences and Awaken Residences (which set a southern Gold Coast penthouse record of $8.15M).

The Big Picture: What's Driving This?

Housing undersupply: Southeast Queensland has faced severe housing undersupply since 2020. Vacancy rates across the Gold Coast fell below 1% during peak periods. Pent-up demand from interstate migration is substantial.

Interstate migration: Queensland recorded net interstate migration of 30,000+ per year in recent years. The Gold Coast — particularly its lifestyle corridors — has been a primary destination.

Light rail effect: The approaching Light Rail Stage 3 opening (mid-2026) is directly driving investment in the Burleigh corridor and suburbs south of Broadbeach. Developers and buyers are positioning ahead of the transport upgrade.

Limited land: The southern Gold Coast is geographically constrained — the ocean to the east, the M1 to the west, national parks and waterways limiting expansion. New supply is predominantly vertical on infill sites.

2032 Olympic investment: The arena, athletes village, and venue upgrades are concentrating long-term attention and investment confidence in the Gold Coast.

Construction cost pressures: Elevated construction costs and financing conditions continue to test feasibility. Fewer projects are proceeding, but those that do are generally better capitalised and better designed.⁸

Summary Table: Active Major Projects (Southern Gold Coast)

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or valuation advice. Fields Real Estate (Licence No. 4832971) makes no warranty as to the accuracy or currency of data published. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and seek independent professional advice before making any property or investment decision. Read our full disclaimer →