Benowa
Benowa is highly prized for its central location and proximity to Surfers Paradise.
Bordered mostly by waterways including Main River, Benowa is located to the west of the Isle of Capri and Bundall, and is just four kilometres from the beach.
With a sprawling golf course and leafy, tree-lined streets, this suburb is well catered for in terms of parks and good facilities.
A popular choice with families and couples, Benowa’s services include the Benowa Gardens Shopping Centre, Pindara Private Hospital, the Royal Pines Resort Golf Course and three schools (public and private).
There are also several private medical suites in the area and administrative offices in nearby Bundall.
Featuring a combination of older style and more modern properties, Benowa offers buyers the choice of everything from affordable homes needing a few renovations to refurbished prestige waterfront properties.
There are three distinct areas which make up Benowa: established Benowa on the northern side of Ashmore Road, Benowa Hills on the rising slopes west of Benowa Road, and the secluded exclusive neighbourhood of Benowa Waters which is to the south of Lake Capabella.
Although there are older homes in this esteemed part of Benowa, most are less than eight years old.
The majority of houses here tend to be externally rendered and many feature impressive architectural designs with good use of glass.
Homebuyers have a large selection of dry and waterfront blocks to choose from, with many of the waterfront properties backing onto Main River, wide canals or Lake Kelly.
Nearby Sir Bruce Small Park provides
baseball fields, a bowling green and football and cricket fields for sport lovers.
Although the ambience of Benowa is worlds apart from the action of the Gold Coast tourist strip, its central location means visitors are never far from the surf, night life, golf clubs, theme parks and other attractions which the city is famous for.
Even the scenic hinterland range is only a short drive away.According to the Census 2001 data, 72 per cent of homes in Benowa are either fully owned or being purchased, ensuring the suburb’s rental market remains tight.
Over the past five years Benowa has developed into one of the Gold Coast’s most affluent areas attracting buyers (residents and investors) with its location and wide range of homes.
Benowa is expected to maintain this position, with the growth seen in recent times set to continue.
Bundall
Bundall has possibly got everything that a homeowner could want. It’s close to the beach, shops and amenities as well as being home to the Gold Coast Turf Club and the Gold Coast Arts Centre.
Many of the homes in Bundall have been extensively renovated with blocks of land priced in the premium end of the market. Multimillion-dollar homes fronting the Nerang River can be found in Sorrento.
Ashmore
Ashmore is located about nine kilometres from Surfers Paradise and has become one of the most diverse residential suburbs of the Gold Coast, offering everything from acreage homes to villas.
Ashmore’s central location, between Southport and Benowa, offers local residents quick and easy access to the Gold Coast’s beaches, the CBD, the Pacific Motorway and the rail link.
A feature of the area is its undulating hills that allow some of the homes good views to Surfers; the hinterland; and even Royal Pines Golf Course.
The suburb boasts tree-lined streets, a variety of architecture, proximity to shopping centres and schools, and a diversity of lifestyles.
Ashmore was developed in the early ’70s and ’80s to meet the demand for traditional quarter acre residential homes of that era. Since then Ashmore has come to offer acreage homes, quarter acre homes, zero lot line homes, villas, townhouses as well as deluxe resort style housing at The Royal Pines Estate.
The most prominent lifestyle in the area is that of the family, with seven schools located in the vicinity. Among them are Ashmore and Bellevue Park State Primary, Trinity Lutheran Primary, Keebra State High and Aquinas Catholic College.
The family orientated lifestyle is balanced with a solid retiree population. There are three retirement/aged care facilities in the area including: the Ashmore Lodge, Domain Retirement Country Club and Amity Gardens.
Adding to Ashmore’s attraction is its proximity to Ashmore Plaza and the Ashmore City Shopping Complex.
Centrally located, it is a five-minute drive to Australia Fair Shopping Centre and the Centro Southport shopping complex.
Over the years, Ashmore has been a solid performer in terms of price growth and popularity.
This trend is expected to be further strengthened by the continued interstate migration of families from the Southern States who are looking for a more affordable lifestyle, which Ashmore can offer.
For these reasons, this suburb has long been
Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise has been at the centre of major development of the Gold Coast throughout the past 30 years and while development has spread north and south, it remains the heart of the Gold Coast.
With inauspicious beginnings as a place called Elston, Surfers Paradise has continued to flourish since the introduction of the Surfers Paradise Hotel by Jim Cavill in 1925.
Occupying a relatively narrow stretch of land across the Nerang River from Southport, Surfers Paradise is one of the most famous beaches in Australia.
Riverside subdivisions in 1949 brought a number of restaurants, boutiques, specialist gift shops, and a cosmopolitan population to the area.
By 1960 central Surfers Paradise could boast its first high-rise apartment block, Kinkabool, and within seven years the now-familiar skyline of apartment buildings was visible from a distance.
Surfers Paradise has a diverse population of around 20,000 people, comprising of families, couples and retirees. The population grows enormously during peak tourist seasons allowing the Gold Coast tourism market to provide a dynamic employment base for residents.
Following the trend toward inner-city living, the area has enjoyed a resurgence of interest and demand for centrally located properties.
Attracting more than four million visitors each year, this world famous suburb is home to the world’s tallest residential tower Q1. This 80 level landmark reaches 322 metres in the sky capturing breathtaking ocean and hinterland views. The Hiton Surfers Paradise Hotel and Residences is one of the suburb’s newest developments and is due to be completed in 2010.
With development sites few and far between and given the continuing demand for centrally located properties, increased interstate migration and the continual upgrading of the Surfers Paradise retail precinct, the future of residential investment in the area looks bright.