The Gold Coast suburb that’s attracting more than just golfers
The Gold Coast secret may have been out for years, but the residents of the Gold Coast suburb of Benowa believe their piece of paradise remains something of a hidden gem.
While the oceanfront from Main Beach to Coolangatta captures more than its share of the booming Gold Coast property headlines, there are suburbs within cooee of the sea that offer a special combination of lifestyle and economic advantage.
Just five kilometres inland of Surfers Paradise, and close to the Nerang River flowing out to the Broadwater, Benowa Waters was one of the earliest suburban extensions to follow the original canal excavations at the nearby Sorrento canal estate.
renowned Royal Pines Golf Course, host of the Australian PGA." />The suburb is best known for the world-renowned Royal Pines Golf Course, host of the Australian PGA. Photo: Paul Harris
Benowa is now firmly established as one of the Gold Coast’s premier suburbs with a range of property types, many waterfront with accompanying pontoons to moor the boat.
While the name Benowa may be unfamiliar to many outside the Gold Coast, it already holds a firm place in the heart of millions of golf enthusiasts who know it as the home of the Royal Pines Resort and the world-renowned Royal Pines course, host of the Australian PGA and home of the RACV Ladies Masters.
So it seems fitting that sport is giving an even greater impetus to the prominence of the suburb as an excellent focus for both owner-occupiers and investors.
Gold Coast Turf Club." />Benowa is close to Bundall’s Gold Coast Turf Club. Photo: Paul Harris
The 2018 Commonwealth Games, scheduled from April 4-15 next year, has seen a multibillion-dollar investment in Gold Coast transport and accommodation infrastructure with spin-offs to both residential and retail development.
The Royal Pines precinct at Benowa has benefited directly with the adjacent Carrara Stadium the focus of a $110-million integrated sports and leisure complex development pitched first at the Games and subsequently as a significant community asset.
The stadium will host the Games opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletic events.
Marina Concourse." />Open-plan living and ample storage are what buyers can expect at Marina Concourse. Photo: Sunland Group
At the same time, the Royal Pines precinct is undergoing its own transformation. Award-winning developer Sunland, for example, is playing a major role with its redevelopment of the Royal Pines Marina, on the doorstep of the Royal Pines course and resort.
It is building on the success of its waterfront Marina Residences, completed in 2014, to deliver Marina Concourse, an $82-million waterfront residential, retail and leisure destination with 110 luxurious apartments and penthouses, the majority with waterfront views.
Twin, classically inspired, tapered, low-rise wings will be the focal point of new retail and dining spaces, expansive landscaped gardens, a swim school, design school and Sunland’s expanded Gold Coast office.
bedroom collection offers some of the biggest new waterfront apartments on the Gold Coast." />The three-bedroom collection offers some of the biggest new waterfront apartments on the Gold Coast. Photo: Sunland Group
Marina Concourse features a mix of two-bedroom, two-bedroom plus study, three-bedroom and three-bedroom plus media residences, including penthouse apartments on level six.
Group managing director Sahba Abedian says Sunland’s vision for Marina Concourse is “to create a vibrant, connected waterfront community which offers unique lifestyle amenities to residents of Royal Pines and the surrounding communities”.
“Sunland’s portfolio is designed specifically for the owner-occupier market, which puts it in a distinctive class of its own – open-plan living areas, ample storage, and the high quality craftsmanship and premium locations sought by this segment,” he says.
The area is described as having a “village feel” by locals. Photo: Sunland Group
“At Marina Concourse, our three-bedroom collection presents some of the largest new waterfront apartments on the Gold Coast, providing three generous bedrooms, two bathrooms, guest powder room and open-plan living, dining and outdoor entertaining spaces.”
Abedian says the key drivers of growth in Benowa have been a combination of strong market fundamentals and private and public investment in lifestyle infrastructure.
It is a view supported by Domain Group economist Dr Andrew Wilson, who says Benowa is reflective of the significant new development on the Gold Coast.
With a median house price at the end of 2016 of more than $800,000 and a weekly rental rate of more than $700, Wilson says suburbs such as Benowa are attracting mid to higher priced buyers and tenants.
“Last year there was a 5 per cent increase in prices over the year and up by 30 per cent in the past five years,” he says.
“This is an upwardly mobile area near the golf course, and these figures show quite consistent growth in that area.”
For most Benowa residents, golf, the Games, and close proximity to the waterfront are only part of the story. Within 15 minutes are seven schools, public and private, the 31-hectare Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, the dining and retail precincts of Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, and – of course – the surf.
Gold Coast resident Donatella Zatta opened her Espresso Puro cafe in the heart of Benowa in January, and says the suburb has a genuine village feel.
“Benowa is a little bit hidden away but it’s a beautiful, beautiful place,” Zatta says.
“Two new (residential) towers are being built right in front of my cafe so there’s an enormous amount going on – and there’s the new pool that also opened just before Christmas.
“It’s got a real community feel – a village; a place where people meet.”
Nearby shopping includes the recent $670-million redevelopment and expansion of Pacific Fair, a destination in its own right with a host of combined retail, fashion dining and leisure options. There is also great shopping closer to home at Benowa Village and Benowa Gardens.
Finally, for those heading to Brisbane, direct access to the M1 freeway is close by.
Comments
Post a Comment