Over-55s living heads to new heights
A major development application lodged in Southport is positioning retirement living to rise – literally – on the Gold Coast skyline.
The $1.5 billion project would deliver 626 independent living apartments across three towers rising above a shared podium on the 1.4-hectare former Star of the Sea school site within the Southport Priority Development Area.
Tower One is proposed at 52 levels with 224 apartments, Tower Two at 41 storeys with 167 residences, and Tower Three at 58 storeys accommodating 235 apartments – all designated for residents aged over 55.
Veteran Queensland developer David Devine lodged the development application on Friday (27 February).
“We believe this will set a new benchmark for over-55s living, not only on the Gold Coast but nationally, and establish a landmark that contributes meaningfully to Southport’s transformation while delivering an extraordinary residential environment for our residents,” David said.
The towers will offer a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, two-bedroom plus multipurpose room, and three-bedroom configurations designed to support flexible, lifestyle-focused living.
At the core is, what David says, is an unprecedented 13,145msq of dedicated health, wellness and lifestyle amenity across multiple levels. These facilities extend across the podium terraces, mid-tower wellness levels within each building, and elevated rooftop areas.
The site is the first project under David’s new brand, DD Resort Living, dedicated exclusively to delivering ultra-premium, wellness-driven communities tailored to the active over-55s market.
He engaged DKO Architecture to design the development, with the brief to create a vertically integrated health and wellness environment unlike anything currently offered in the retirement living sector on the Gold Coast.
David said the scale of the wellness offering reflected a fundamental shift in expectations among today’s over-55 buyer.
“This generation is healthier, more active and more lifestyle-driven than any before it, and they are not looking to slow down,” he said.
“They’re looking to elevate their lifestyle, to live in an environment that supports longevity, vitality and connection. That requires a completely different approach to design.”
David said when complete, the development is anticipated to have an end value of about $1.5 billion, representing one of the most significant projects proposed for the Gold Coast.
