HIDDEN JEWEL
First peek at $1 billion beach-edge blueprint that will redefine our thinking about how tourism and hospitality can work on our coastline
NEW owners of the $1 billion Surfers Paradise oceanfront Jewel towers have revealed their stunning plan to create a beach-edge oasis that will for the first time connect a hotel property seamlessly to the city’s coastline.
The release of the images showing bars, restaurants and pools sitting on the foreshore comes as momentum builds for the Gold Coast to enhance its beachside offering with more than umbrellas, buckets and spades.
OWNERS of the $1 billion Jewel towers project have given a first peek at its stunning beach-edge bar, dining and swimming pools precinct.
New artist impressions showcase a centrepiece food and beverage offering at the triple tower site, designed to feel like a seamless extension right up to Surfers Paradise beach.
Some city leaders want to trial commercialisation of pockets of the Gold Coast beachfront with high-end drinking and dining hubs, but Jewel’s plans are already set to do just that.
New project owners, Yuhu Group Australia, yesterday released the artist impressions of the alfresco amenities showing gardens, terraces, a pool network, dining and retail.
A Jewel spokesman clarified any commercial activity would be contained on its project site up to the beach edge but not spilling over on to the sand itself. All bars and restaurants would be open to the general public for “everyone to enjoy”.
“The pools and gym are for our guests and residents only at this stage but that is adjustable depending on demand, and what the community and visitors call for,” the spokesperson said.
Among Jewel’s beach-edge amenities will be:
An expansive beach-facing outdoor resort pool with swim-up bar;
A spacious all-day dining hall with a wide range of cuisine within clear view of the water;
An outdoor dining, seating and lounge areas with lush poolside gardens;
An expansive lobby bar plus feature bar with an area of 450-plus square metres;
A 700sq m ballroom for up to 800 people with three-storey-high ceiling on the beachfront, overlooking the ocean;
● Indoor pool with gym, health and wellness centre;
● Up-market retail spaces. Yuhu Group Australia director Jimmy Huang said Jewel project was the first major beachfront resort on the Gold Coast in more than 30 years: “We want the Jewel to take people’s breath away.”
Jewel’s on-site amenities extending to the edge of the beach aimed to take full advantage of a superb location, he said.
“The Jewel will offer a spectacular outlook over the ocean and our expansive pool area, gardens, outdoor terraces, bars and all-day dining spaces are designed to feel like a seamless extension of the beach,” he said.
Mr Huang said beach-facing amenities made perfect sense in beautiful coastal locations as people felt happy when they could see the sand and water while taking in the sea breeze.
He said Jewel would offer residents, hotel guests and visitors easy beach access.
“We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to deliver something very special for the Gold Coast beachfront and we think people will be delighted with the end result,” he said.
Mr Huang last week visited the Surfers Paradise with his father and Yuhu Group chairman Xiangmo Huang, revealing they planned reconfiguring the project communal areas to increase space for bars, shops, waterfront gym and pools.
At the time, Jimmy Huang said they aimed to attract world-class retailers plus install a spa and wellness centre hoping to create a hub “that draws people in, somewhere they will love spending their time”.
Jewel towers are expected to reach maximum construction height of 40, 46 and 34 by August. The project, which has sold 40 per cent of its luxury apartments, has a completion date targeted for mid-2019.