This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
ADRIAN Puljich’s over 50s living developer GemLife has received approval for its first apartment project – a $450 million low-rise development on a former trotting track at Currumbin Waters on the southern Gold Coast.
The Galleon Way project will comprise six three-level buildings and one four-level building, featuring a total of 205 three-bedroom apartments and a multi-million-dollar country club.
Some 70% of the 13.854-hectare site will be dedicated to green open space that is preserved and rehabilitated, including a 7.7-hectare parcel that is ultimately handed to Gold Coast City Council as protected public open space.
GemLife is aiming to launch the project to market this year.
Puljich, the company’s director and CEO, said there was significant demand for quality over-50s living on the southern Gold Coast.
“We are thrilled to have the green light for the project and will be working to bring it to the market as soon as possible, to help fill a shortage of supply for relaxed yet elevated over-50s apartments on the Gold Coast,” he said.
“We believe it will be embraced by buyers.”
The building will be nestled among green space and the natural topography, and oriented for maximum solar benefits, with green connections to the Currumbin Creek bank. All buildings will have at least a 350-metre set-back from the creek, with land closest to the waterfront, once home to a man-made equestrian track, to be retained and enhanced as dedicated public open space.
A native flora rehabilitation and revegetation program will be undertaken, in addition to augmenting existing mangrove, she-oaks, gum trees and the saltmarsh. More than 100,000 new plants will be planted throughout the development including vegetated wildlife corridors along established minor waterways through the site, and koala and fauna friendly fencing installed along the Galleon Way frontage.
“You couldn’t find a better location for an over-50s community. It is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a relaxed and healthy lifestyle, with beach and nature walks, swimming, surfing and fishing, along with cafes, shopping, public transport, medical facilities and the airport all in easy reach,” Puljich said.
The site also neighbours Merv Craig Recreational Park and Sports Ground, Elanora Community Centre and Currumbin Waters Park.
Architect Jared Poole, director of Jared Poole Design, the project is inspired “by the Queenslander veranda”, with all apartments featuring sliding doors to private outdoor spaces, “allowing for the ultimate indoor-outdoor living, where residents can capture prevailing breezes, enjoy passive solar benefits and ultimate privacy”.
Across the country club’s three levels, its ground and basement levels will be home to a 55-seat boutique cinema, a twin-lane ten-pin bowling alley, a 25-metre indoor lap pool with spa, gym, lounge, ballroom, hair salon, bar, wine room, residents’ workshop, and consulting room.
On the top floor will be a games room with a golf simulator, library, arts studio, and music room, plus a three-rink lawn bowls facility accessed via an open landscaped precinct, a pickle ball court and outdoor barbecue area.
At the end of 2024, GemLife launched its second Toowoomba community with the $250 million GemLife Highfields Heights, following more than $172 million in sales at its first entrant in the city. GemLife Highfields Heights will comprise 366 over-50s living residences on a 23-hectare site with 3.5-hectares of bushland conservation area, a barnhouse-inspired $12.5 million Country Club with a pool, ten-pin bowling, gym, cinema, cafe, arts studio, lawn bowls and virtual golf.
Puljich recently launched the first over-50s community in his $500 million Aliria land lease venture. The maiden project will be spread across a 2.5-hectare site in Rockhampton, and new communities will be released in Bundaberg, Toowoomba and Kilcoy by late this year.
