GURNER promises new levels of luxury at $1.25bn Budds Beach resort

Melbourne-headquartered luxury developer GURNER has unveiled what it says will be its biggest and most luxurious project to date, lodging plans to build a $1.25 billion resort and apartments complex on the Gold Coast’s Budds Beach.

GURNER’s La Pelago promises to transform a 13,000 square metre site in Surfers Paradise into four private islands, with four towers each surrounded by tropical landscaping and pool-side retreats.

Chief executive Tim Gurner said the project would apply the developer’s experience in retail, signature amenity and urban regeneration on a grand scale.

“When designing the project it was really about me dreaming about where we all want to be right now, and for me that is a hot and sunny luxury private island,” Mr Gurner said.

“Something that offers sun, pools, amazing service, luxury amenities and residences - something right now you cannot get in Australia.”

A ground floor retail and hospitality precinct will add to the amenity, with a suite of international designer brands and high-end dining experiences.

La Pelago will also feature a 200-room hotel, which will be operated by an as yet unnamed international hotel chain making its first foray into Australia.

“We are well progressed with an international EOI process with some of the world’s best five-star hotel brands, and we are very excited to announce more details in months to come,” Mr Gurner said.

The towers, designed by Warren and Mahoney, will range from 29 to 57 storeys, containing 95 to 350 residences per building.

Each will express a unique architectural aesthetic, reminiscent of world-renowned resorts in Dubai, Singapore and Miami.

Warren and Mahoney design principal Barrington Gohns said the precinct would set itself apart from the immense high-rises the Gold Coast is famous for by providing an immersive island experience.

“The design very much respects the crisp, natural island experience utilising integrated landscape and pools, lots of white, timber and glass in its form, with bespoke elements in each ‘island’,” Mr Gohns said.

“The foundation of La Pelago is steeped in context and identity, acknowledging the tension between river and coastline, and the design only takes what it can give back.

“A strong focus on health wellness resonates throughout, along with a carbon neutral manifesto we continue to drive with GURNER.”

Heralded international landscape architect SWA Group, which designed the landscapes and amenities at the ultra-high-end Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles and Los Vantanas in Cabo, Mexico, will provide its signature touch at La Pelago.

Reflecting on the project, Mr Gurner said La Pelago was the culmination of an eight-year journey to identify opportunities to create ultra-luxury precincts across the country.

“Using this approach we’ve been fortunate to ride a significant upswing in luxury sales across our projects like St Moritz and Victoria & Vine in Melbourne, and large-format place-making sites like FV in Brisbane,” Mr Gurner said.

“La Pelago is the next evolution in this journey.

“We believe Budds Beach is the next frontier of luxury on the Coast and we are creating a $1.25 billion precinct that will enable us to be at the forefront of this transformation.”