More than $10 million of full-floor luxury apartments on the last empty block on Moffat Headland have been quickly snapped up through word of mouth.
The boutique project, Honu Moffat Beach, is the first development in 15 years on the tightly held headland.
The property sits atop Queen of Colonies Parade, one of the most exclusive streets on the Sunshine Coast, with uninterrupted north-facing views over the cliff edge to the sea and coastline.
The grassy lot has remained empty since 2011 when the multi-million-dollar holiday rental of Sydney man Tom Nikolic burned to the ground.
Brisbane developer Godfrey Esmonde said he spotted the “unbeatable” block while holidaying on the Sunshine Coast and negotiated with the owner for a $3.25 million sale.
“I holiday at Dicky Beach and run up and down the hill for fitness, or at least, slowly make my way up and down,” Mr Esmonde told sunshinecoastnews.com.au
“I wrote (the owner a letter) telling him this is who I am and what I do and I’d love to talk to you about buying your property.
“We negotiated for about three to four months and bought the property.”
The deal settled just before the start of the pandemic and Mr Esmonde said there was some hesitation about pursuing the ultra-luxurious project, not knowing what was in store in the future.
“It wasn’t so certain a year ago but we’re happy with it now,” he said.
Honu comprises five residences that each take up an entire floor, with prices starting at $3.35m for the ground floor apartment which has three bedrooms and its own private pool.
The four-bedroom, five-bathroom penthouse was the first to be snapped up for a price-tag nearing $4million and was followed by sales of the next two floors, none of which were advertised.
Two of the sold apartments were purchased as weekenders by buyers from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
The third will become the home of a couple returning from Singapore while a fourth is about to be sold.
Honu, which in Hawaiian folklore is a turtle that is a union of man, earth and sea, is being developed by Mr Esmonde’s Holm Developments.
It’s designed by award-winning architect Joe Adsett who specialises in ‘subtropical modernism’.
The design takes inspiration from its clifftop surrounds, with the over-flowing planter boxes on the balcony reminiscent of the headland’s rugged vegetation.
“We spent a lot of time talking to the neighbours who have been there for about 20 years about what it’s like living on a headland and the impact of wind, rain and the sun,” Mr Esmonde said.
For example one of the key design features is an internal balcony which was included after learning from locals that sitting outside could be unpleasant during the occasional northerly wind.
The project has approval from the Sunshine Coast Council but the developers are currently in mediation over some sticking points which Mr Esmonde described as “creative differences”.
He hoped to have construction started in April this year and for it to be completed by April 2022.
Honu is Holm Developments’ second project after V Clayfield, luxury city apartments in Brisbane. Their third project will be in East Brisbane.
Mr Esmonde worked for another development company before leaving to start his own boutique business.
