Highrise Harry’s not on a go-slow

THE ambitions of Harry Triguboff, an 89-year-old developer who does not know how to slow down, have soared in Surfers Paradise to include a new super-tower and a standalone hotel.

The man dubbed “Highrise Harry” is off to a quick start to Iconica, his latest venture, which will rise on a $75m site overlooking the ocean at the northern end of The Esplanade (right) in Surfers Paradise.

The Meriton group founder, who sits high on the 2022 Rich List with a $21.25bn fortune, initially mooted two towers of 55 levels on the land, bought from Singapore’s Banyan Tree group.

He later revised his plans to one 51-floor building and another of 71 levels.

He would retain the 51-floor tower as a Meriton Suites hotel and had bumped the height of the other tower up, putting the highest apartments on level 78, he said.

“I’ve told my team we have to get cracking with the project. We’ve cleared the site and we’re about to start piling.

“The market has treated us well at our first Gold Coast super-tower, Ocean, along the street.

“Our prices there have gone up – we’re in a market where there’s big demand but a short supply.

“That’s in contrast to major cities elsewhere in Australia and that’s why we’re not wasting any time with Iconica.”

Meriton is working through apartment designs and finishes for the project and intends to launch it in August.

The $700m Iconica is scheduled for completion in 2026. By then Mr Triguboff will be 93.

He has pressed the go button on the venture as the finishing touches are being put to his 76-level super-tower Ocean, also on The Esplanade.

The building has 414 apartments and has a Meriton Suites hotel on its lower floors.