British Royal Family to develop luxury Main Beach apartment tower, Masthead Ocean Club

The $250 million project will be Banda's first project in Australia. They've developed luxury buildings across the world since being founded by Mozzi in 2007.
British Royal Family to develop luxury Main Beach apartment tower, Masthead Ocean Club
The view from Masthead. Image supplied
Joel Robinson October 4, 2022

A member of the British Royal Family is behind a joint venture of one of the most luxurious projects to hit the Gold Coast.

The London-based Banda, headed by developer Edo Mapeli Mozzi, the husband of Princess Beatrice, who is the niece of King Charles III, has teamed up with the Sydney developer Rory O'Brien to deliver Masthead Ocean Club, a luxury tower in Main Beach.

The $250 million project designed by BDA Architecture with interiors by MIM Design, will be Banda's first project in Australia. They've developed luxury buildings across the world since being founded by Mozzi in 2007.

The announcement will likely garner international appeal for the development of just 28 apartments, soon to launch through Highland Property. They will be seeking more than $5 million for even the entry level apartments, albeit the entry level will have nearly 320 sqm of space and span a whole floor. There will also be one sprawling penthouse, two sub penthouses, and five sky homes with protected views of the Pacific Ocean, Broadwater, and hinterland.

British Royal Family to develop luxury Main Beach apartment tower, Masthead Ocean Club

Mozzi founded Banda in 2007 and has grown the company from niche London developer into burgeoning global design practice, known for crafting environments which are both intrinsically beautiful and faultlessly functional.

"This project forms part of Banda’s evolution and global expansion journey," Mozzi said.

"We currently have projects underway in London, New York, Doha, San Salvador and all over Europe," Mozzi said, adding that they had been looking for the right opportunity to enter the Australian market.

"Masthead is absolutely the project we’ve been waiting for.”

The development will feature ultra-luxe amenity, which will be known as The Ocean Club.

With membership only accessible via a Masthead apartment purchase, The Ocean Club, which spans two full floors of 650m2 high in the tower, will encompass premium in-home facilities including a sophisticated wine and champagne lounge, whiskey and cigar room, private dining space, coffee bar, sky high library and business meeting areas – all with panoramic ocean, coastal and Hinterland views.

British Royal Family to develop luxury Main Beach apartment tower, Masthead Ocean Club

Members will also receive additional benefits from distinguished luxury brands including Chairman’s Club membership to Levantine Hill Winery in The Yarra Valley, participation in Newgate’s 2023 racing syndicate, which will also include attendance at select race days in Newgate’s own suite at Randwick Racecourse, and a complimentary new BMW electric car.

There's further amenity in the health and wellness club, which will feature a wet edge pool, spa, steam room and sauna, as well as a state-of-the-art gym with a yoga and pilates studio.

Mapelli Mozzi and O’Brien are the inaugural members of Masthead Ocean Club, with Mr Mapelli Mozzi officially assuming the role as honorary Chairman.

British Royal Family to develop luxury Main Beach apartment tower, Masthead Ocean Club

O'Brien, who will be retaining one of the apartments for his own use, said Masthead Ocean Club’s facilities will re-shape the way residents experience their new beachside home and lifestyle.

“No other project in Australia offers residents such extensive private and secure luxury facilities but shared amongst so few people. In our case just 28 owners. This is true prestige.

"We wanted to ensure our amenities are never crowded and can be freely enjoyed by our small number of residents in ultimate privacy and seclusion."

O'Brien has developed several luxury developments over the last 30 years in Sydney, Los Angeles, and the award-winning project in the Whitsundays.

He said Masthead isn't your average luxury beachfront development.

“We have worked meticulously as a team to create a truly spectacular development,” O’Brien said.

“This isn’t your average luxury beachfront development - the planning code has now changed so there will be nothing quite like it in the future.

British Royal Family to develop luxury Main Beach apartment tower, Masthead Ocean Club

"Masthead Ocean Club will be in a class of its own, dedicated to servicing the unique lifestyle demands of the world' most discerning residents.

“We have carefully exploited the unique east west axis so owners can see the sunrise over the pacific and set over the mountains of the Hinterland.

"These views are preserved in perpetuity and will never be built out.”

Crowning the Masthead Ocean Club development are two ultra-deluxe sub penthouses spanning a massive 634m2 each, topped by a penthouse with over 1000 sqm of living space, including its own pool, gym and golf putting green. There will be a private owner's study in the "crow's nest", at the pinnacle of Masthead Ocean Club.

Masthead has all approvals in place and construction is anticipated to commence in the coming months with completion scheduled for 2024.

Joel Robinson

Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at Urban.com.au, managing Urban's editorial team and creating the largest news cycle for the off the plan property market in the country. Joel has been writing about residential real estate for nearly a decade, following a degree in Business Management with a major in Journalism at Leeds Beckett University in England. He specializes in off the plan apartments, and has a particular interest in the development application process for new projects.

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