Vision Revealed for Gold Coast Aussie Rules Vertical Village

Up there Cazaly is about to take on a whole new meaning on the Gold Coast with the vision for a towering Aussie rules football village revealed. As part of the bold proposal, highrises would be teamed with the sport’s high-flying action—for which the catchcry, later turned into a footy anthem, was coined. And where else more fitting for such a development play than a city famed for its ever-soaring ruck of skyscrapers? The masterplan for the Southport Sharks sports, lifestyle and entertainment precinct integrates three residential towers rising up to 20 storeys with a combined 540 apartments. As its centrepiece, an expansion of the club’s existing home grounds into “a world-class AFL stadium” accommodating more than 20,000 spectators is also proposed along with the delivery of a four-storey sports science and recovery centre, clubhouse extensions and upgrades—including national standard broadcasting capability. The Southport Australian Football Club was established in 1961 and competes in the second-tier VFL. It is one of the largest clubs in Queensland with more than 55,000 members and also hosts elite AFL and AFLW programs. Four years ago, the club put forward plans for a “boutique stadium” for 8000-10,000 spectators and three midrise buildings with 260 apartments. Taking the covers off its new upscaled masterplan comes after a stellar 2025 season for the code in Queensland in which the Brisbane Lions claimed AFL grand final glory to seal back-to-back premierships and the Gold Coast Suns soared up the ladder to savour the club’s first taste of finals action. Under the proposal, the club is seeking preliminary approval to vary the 13ha Musgrave Avenue site’s existing zonings to provide a planning framework for four integrated sub-precincts—residential, club commercial, hotel, and sport and recreation. A planning assessment report prepared by Urbis deemed the Southport Sharks masterplan “a significant city-shaping opportunity…[and] catalyst capable of unlocking significant community, economic and placemaking benefits for the northern Gold Coast”. ▲ An aerial rendering of the masterplan concept for the Southport Sharks site. “The Southport Sharks masterplan represents a bold step in shaping the future of one of the Gold Coast’s most significant destinations,” it said. “At its heart, the masterplan is about unlocking opportunity, strengthening the club’s role as a home for AFL at all levels, expanding its capacity to host events of every scale, and creating new spaces for community connection. “It integrates seamlessly with the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP), positioning the Sharks as a catalyst for collaboration between sport, science, and education. “Through high‑quality design, diverse land uses, and a focus on accessibility, the plan delivers a precinct that is vibrant, inclusive, and future‑ready.” Cox Architecture was engaged by the club to design the overall precinct masterplan concept. According to the application, its trio of residential towers is earmarked for the site’s north-western corner. Each building would yield about 180 apartments sitting above three levels of podium parking sleeved by double-storey townhouses along its Olsen Avenue frontage. “The intent of the residential precinct is to accommodate a range of residential and short-term living options,” the documents said. “This precinct supports the long-term densification and diversification of housing in the area, while also providing an opportunity to capitalise on proximity to the club, stadium, and surrounding employment and health precincts.” ▲ Renderings of the Southport Sharks masterplan concept that includes a trio of residential towers. Within the club commercial precinct, a mix of uses is planned that enhance its activation, community value and financial sustainability—including a sport science and recovery centre, allied health services for the wider community, offices and childcare centre. The existing four-star, 120-room Mantra at Sharks hotel has been incorporated into the masterplan to service growing demand for short-term accommodation in the area. Expansion plans for the Southport Sharks stadium are to be undertaken in two stages—the first resulting in 9200 seats with temporary additional seating increasing capacity to about 18,600. Ultimately, under the new masterplan stadium design, a seating capacity of 20,800 patrons is proposed in stands rising up to 30m. “The vision for this precinct is to facilitate the continued evolution of the site as a regionally significant sporting destination, capable of hosting large-scale events, training programs, and community participation in active recreation,” the documents said. “The stadium component, in particular, represents a unique opportunity to build on the site’s existing legacy and position it as a central piece of the Gold Coast’s broader sports infrastructure network. “Long-term aspirations for the stadium include potential enhancements to seating, player facilities, and media/event infrastructure to support a broader calendar of professional and semi-professional events. In doing so, it reinforces the site’s contribution to the city’s identity as a hub for elite and grassroots sport.” ▲ The masterplan proposal includes four sub-precincts across the 13ha site—residential, club commercial, hotel and sports and recreation. On-site parking for about 2514 cars—of which about 972 spaces would be for residents—is proposed across the precinct. “Collectively, these initiatives position the Southport Sharks precinct as a benchmark sports, lifestyle and entertainment mixed-use redevelopment that will drive the next phase of growth in the city’s northern corridor,” the application said. It also noted the project was “a significant opportunity to balance the coastal development pattern by strengthening inland activity centres”. “The Southport Sharks precinct sits within a rapidly consolidating corridor of strategic urban renewal … [and] represents a rare infill opportunity to deliver higher-density, mixed-use outcomes within an existing urban footprint, supported by substantial infrastructure capacity. “[Its] proximity to the GCHKP, Griffith University and major transport infrastructure provides the foundations for a self-sustaining, transit-oriented community where residents, workers and visitors can live, learn, work and recreate within a single integrated precinct.”

Vision Revealed for Gold Coast Aussie Rules Vertical Village

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