Southport and Harry

HARRY Triguboff, a veteran among Australia’s apartment developers, has had a quiet passion for the Gold Coast since he trundled into town for a curious first visit in the 1960s.

Mr Triguboff, in those days a virtual property novice who had stepped into the development game with a sense of trepidation, little knew what an effect he would have on the city’s skyline.

And little did he know that some 30 years later, in the suburb that is home to the city’s commercial heart, he would embark on what then was his biggest project.

Brighton on Broadwater, on the site of former pacesetting shopping centre Sundale, was completed last year and today is home to 1600 apartments, shops and office.

Mr Triguboff laughs when he recounts the reaction he received in 2004 when he paid $54.5 million for the 5.2ha Sundale property.

“People said I was crazy paying that much for a site, let alone in Southport.

“I must admit that at times I wondered myself whether I had done the right thing.

“Then I shook myself and said,’ Harry, you’ve bought a blank canvas in a great suburb so get busy and leave your mark.”

Mr Triguboff said the Brighton on Broadwater adventure taught him a lot about designing and building major projects that had ‘heart’.

“Today Brighton is a vibrant home to around 3000 people, it has great recreation facilities, Woolworths, shops, restaurants, a childcare centre, and hotel suites.

“My so-called daring Southport foray armed me with the knowledge and confidence to go bigger in Sydney and that’s what I’ve been doing.

“One of my projects, at Pagewood, will have 3000 apartments and be stacked with Brighton-like facilities for residents.”

Mr Triguboff said the success of Southport’s Brighton, and his love of the Gold Coast, also had inspired him to be ‘daring’ in Surfers Paradise.

The 85-year-old head of the Meriton group is laying the groundwork for a 73-level super-tower in Surfers Paradise.

The beachfront Ocean, in terms of the number of apartments, will be the biggest in his 54-year property career – it is intended to have 722, some of them hotel suites.

It also will be his 19th Gold Coast high-rise.

Meanwhile, the veteran continues to scan Southport for development opportunities.

“I spent nearly 14 years building Brighton on Broadwater so I have an intricate understanding of Southport’s market – right through from buyers to locations.

“The development scope there has widened thanks to the arrival of the light rail, the evolution of Chinatown, and the positive and progressive attitude of the city council and the Southport councillor.”