A bright orange “eyesore” in the heart Caloundra is set to finally be demolished, as preparations for the construction of a new 179-apartment development ramp up.
Developer Gardner Vaughan Group (GVG), which purchased the site in 2024, has confirmed demolition is scheduled to commence in early 2026.
It will pave the way for construction of Eden Caloundra, which will include two apartment towers containing 179 units with resort-style amenities such as a pool, plus ground-floor commercial tenancies and a landscaped plaza.
Caloundra MP Kendall Morton also posted to social media about the move, saying: “The orange building is finally going!”
“Fences have gone up and construction is starting in January,” she said in a video with the post.
The prime 5296sqm block was painted the bright orange-pink in late 2021 in a bid to attract interest to the $250 million Paloma Paloma hotel and apartments development that was proposed for the site.
A suite of billboards for the project went up in Melbourne in early 2002, declaring ‘Not Noosa’. The ads – which ran in Tullamarine, Footscray and Armadale – were designed to attract Melburnians to the laid-back southern end of the Coast, instead of their traditional migration destination of Noosa.
But by March 2023, Sunshine Coast News reported that all had gone silent from developer CURA Habitas Pty Ltd, and the owner’s consent for the project was withdrawn in May that year.
The site was then put up for sale, with SCN reporting in January 2024 that a buyer had been found. That was later revealed to be the Gardner Vaughan Group.
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A GVG spokesperson acknowledged there had been some confusion around the site’s past.
“The previous developer painted the buildings orange as part of an awareness campaign, and some community members have assumed we were responsible for that and for the site remaining in that condition for years,” they said.
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“That’s not the case but we understand how the misconception arose and appreciate the opportunity to clarify it.”
The spokesperson said preparations for Eden Caloundra had begun.
“We recently fenced the vacant site for safety reasons and in anticipation of upcoming construction commencement,” they said.
“We recently demolished a house that was sitting on the site.
“Once demolition is complete, our team will move straight into bringing the project to life.”
Ms Morton said the community had “watched and waited for years” for change at the site.
“It’s finally great to see that something spectacular is going to be going on this site starting in January,” she said.
Ms Morton said she also shared a personal connection to the block.
“Fun fact, this is a building where I had my very first office when I started my business right here in Caloundra,” she said.
GVG said both towers would be built simultaneously, with completion “anticipated for late 2028”.
“Overall, the response to Eden has been overwhelmingly positive – we’re genuinely grateful for the enthusiasm and support,” the spokesperson said.
“We’ve seen an exceptional level of interest during the coming-soon campaign, the strongest in Gardner Vaughan Group’s history, with more than 1100 early registrations to date.
“Our sales team has already begun taking expressions of interest and hosting private appointments in the display suite.
“The full sales launch is planned to coincide with the start of construction in early 2026.”
