There’s no other term for it. It was, definitely, a “glittering” affair. At the Mondrian Hotel overlooking the famed Burleigh Cove, industry figures, prospective residents, and Gold Coast identities came together for the launch of Surfer.
No, not this esteemed journal and half-century chronicler of surfing culture, but for the launch of a new $150 million, 30-storey luxury residential and short-stay tower planned for Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, developed by the Bastion Group. And in a neat twist, the building’s form is drawn from the profile of a surfboard.
That’s perhaps why Bastion brought in Aussie next-gen stars Dane Henry and Milla Coco Brown. CEO Alex Scott said the pair have been signed on as ambassadors “to ensure its next residential venture, Surfer, isn’t just an address but a community shaped by surf culture.”
He said the duo will work closely with Bastion’s design and development teams, offering first-hand insight into how coastal life is actually lived – from daily routines shaped by tides to the practical realities of coming home from the ocean. That should be invaluable advice for the EMF-designed gym, a resort-style/clear-bottom pool, an exclusive residents’ area with private plunge pools, and podium parking, whatever that is.
Now the pair are undoubtedly two of Australia and the world’s best emerging surf talents. Henry, 20, is the current WSL World Junior Champion and flared as the Rip Curl wildcard at this year’s Bells Beach Pro. Milla, 18, is a bona fide rock star: all airs, slab technique and sparky, front-loaded personality.
And while Henry might be the most aerodynamic surfer on the planet, I would question his knowledge of Diagrid and its use as a framework for diagonally intersecting metal or concrete beams for lateral loads. Similarly, Milla is known for her tuberiding, less so for her on-site knowledge of cantilevers and the appropriate use of Slipform Core. Still, with both surfers “buying” apartments in the complex, you can’t blame the groms for getting involved in a project with this much backing. I can’t see Rip Curl, for example, throwing in a three-bedroom private residence currently priced from $A995,000, in the next round of contracts.
Of course, surfing and real estate have a long history. After all, anecdotally, it seems 75% of all pro surfers transition into real estate agents post-competitive career. And usually, it ends well, except when it doesn’t.
Last week it was reported that a $5m complex at Uluwatu, featuring a restaurant, surfboard store and Rip Curl shop, part owned by former pro surfer Dean “Dingo” Morrison and Rip Curl Founder Doug Warbrick, had spilled into Bali’s courts, with multiple lawsuits, police reports and criminal complaints now underway. Dingo claims they’ve been shut out of their own business and now don’t know who’s running it. Claw called it “a sordid story” with no winners.
Of course, if you were at the Mondrian launch, sipping cocktails of Cinqa, and eating freshly caught snapper with large men in thigh-grappling white slacks and leather shoes (sans socks, obvs), and rubbing augmented breasts and flawless foreheads with TV landscapers, Queensland celebrities, real estate magnates, influencers and Josh Kerr, winners were everywhere. This is the Gold Coast after all, where the best dreams come in the form of steel-clad skyscrapers that can throw serious shade on the white sands of the Surfers Paradise beaches.
This latest one just happens to be in the shape of a surfboard. Which has to be a good sign, right?