BILLIONAIRE’S RIVER COTTAGE
CHINESE railway entrepreneur Wen Bingrong has lodged plans to build this 10-bedroom mega-mansion on the Nerang River at Paradise Waters. If approved by the council, House le Château would become one of the biggest homes on the Gold Coast.
A BILLIONAIRE Chinese railway entrepreneur wants to build French-style megamansion on prime riverfront land in Surfers Paradise.
The property, dubbed House le Chateau, would be one of the Gold Coast’s biggest homes and be filled with authentic European fittings and materials.
The Paradise Waters land was bought by Wen Bingrong in September last year for $9.2 million.
The Chinese railway technology executive and major shareholder of China HighSpeed Railway Technology is worth more than $1.1 billion.
According to a development application filed with the Gold Coast City Council this week, the 3432sq m riverfront site on Commodore Drive, Paradise Waters, will feature two houses connected by a raised walkway.
The main mansion will have six bedrooms while the second house, expected to be used for hosting guests and extended family, will have four. All would enjoy enjoy views of the Nerang River.
In its pitch to council, the developer says the mansion would be a “landmark dwelling combining French chateau-style detail with European-inspired gardens to create a prestigious residence unparalleled style and architectural excellence”.
The main house will be 2100sq m while the guesthouse will be 800sq m.
Both will be made of marble and other European materials, including a slate roof and domes made of zinc.
They will be accessible from three driveways on Commodore Drive.
The luxurious property, which will have a 140m frontage to the Nerang River, was designed by leading Surfers Paradise firm Jered Poole Design. The property was sold last year by agent Tony Yan for a record amount for a riverfront site.
Mr Yan told the Bulletin at the time of sale the site was picked up by its new owner on his first visit to the Gold Coast.
It beat out the previous record-holder, an $8.4 million sale of a 4044 lot at Sanctuary Cove in 2015.
The mansion will reach a height of 16.5m, well above the area’s 9m height limit because of its spires and will require a vote by councillors.
Among its features are a large swimming pool, with service rooms and a bathroom located on the rooftop.
Its size, density and opulence puts it on par with some of the Gold Coast’s largest homes at The Sovereign Islands and Isle of Capri.
The land was sold last year by Chinese couple Yanlian Wu and Songming Zheng, who paid $6.2 million for it in 2011.
It was once owned by developer Jim Raptis who lives at a neighbouring Commodore Drive site and bought it for $1.1 million in 1999.
He later lost control of the site and it was sold.
Council planning boss Cameron Caldwell welcomed news of the project and said it showed continued confidence in the Gold Coast.
“Sites of this size and value are at a premium so an application like this shows there is confidence in the city’s market from investors.
“It is unusual for a project like this to come along and its design is of a high quality.
“Council will give this development a rigorous assessment.”
It is expected to go before the council’s planning committee later this year when it is expected to be approved.