A beachside mechanic and petrol station building in Caloundra that dates back to at least the 1960s is making way for a new apartment complex with a downstairs coffee shop.
For many decades the Kings Beach Service Centre on Moreton Parade provided old-fashioned driveway service, fuel and mechanical repairs.
Located just 350m from Kings Beach’s golden sands, the prime site will be developed by Brisbane-based Pacifica, with construction poised to begin soon on 12 luxury apartments.
The four-storey Beachside Kings Beach will have luxury three-bedroom residences, with prices between $1.295 million and $1.7 million, and work is due to start in coming weeks.
Long-time Caloundra residents and visitors would know the well-positioned location on the roundabout near the Kings Beach Ampitheatre and Kings Beach Tavern.
In recent years the building has been tenanted by a coffee shop and Souls Massage Thongs.
Prior to that, the site was the home of the Kings Beach Service Centre which had a long history dating back to the 1930s when it was a mechanical repair business in the main street of Caloundra.
Caloundra Motors operated on Bulcock Street until it was moved in the 1980s to Kings Beach by the owner’s grandson Robert Smith and his wife Glenda and began operating as Kings Beach Service Centre.
The property was sold by the Smiths in 2018 for $500,000 to the previous owner Condora Investments who sold to the current owner Beerwah Swan Street Pty Ltd in early 2022 for $1.9 million.
Amber Werchon agent Daniel Mendes said the site had been cleared and work would begin in coming weeks. It was anticipated the complex would be completed before Christmas next year.
Mr Mendes said some 70 tonnes of soil was laid on the site to counter some “contamination” from its previous use as a petrol station and more testing would be undertaken.
The boutique building of just 12 apartments will have only three residences per floor.
The living areas and master bedroom open to an east facing terrace with vistas of Kings Beach and Moreton Island.
“The residences are designed to connect with the surrounding natural beauty taking advantage of the natural light and sea breezes,” the website says.
“Your new life here will evoke a relaxed vibe with subtle sophistication that you’ll absolutely love living in.”
Mr Mendes said a “good and healthy” number of people had already shown interest in the apartments, although enquiries had dropped off a bit since interest rates were increased.
Despite the negative press surrounding Australia’s construction industry, Mr Mendes said the apartment buiding would be going ahead.
“This one is going ahead regardless of pre-sales, contracts or expressions of interest,” he said.
