"The modern day beach house": Callista Palm Beach finishes completion, with one opportunity left
When Chapter Two and acquisition partner Kingbella Group secured a prime Palm Beach site in mid-2021, they wanted to develop something which would offer a point of difference in the sought-after Gold Coast enclave.
What they've produced is Callista, a striking collection of just four townhouses less than 200 metres from the beach.
“They are modern-day beach houses," Chapter Two Co-founder Jon Quayle says.
"They're the size of a home but the convenience of a villa."
Quayle says when they were undertaking their due diligence and looking for development sites, they found that there were plenty of apartment projects to choose from in the area, but there was a lack of brand new townhouses.
“We’re seeing that buyers are spoiled for choice when it comes to apartments in Palm Beach within this price range, but not everyone wants to live in a three-bedroom apartment smaller than Callista that backs on to the highway and could potentially be built out down the track," Quayle says.
"Similarly, entry into a brand new house is unattainable for most in the area now, with recent sales on the same street as Callista exceeding $3 million while anything new build on the beach is upwards of $10 million.
"Callista has shone through and filled this gap in the market."
For the last few years, Palm Beach has been one of the strongest housing markets on the Gold Coast, if not across the whole of Australia. The median house price increased 45 per cent between February 2021 to February 2023, with research showing many buyers are now looking to house alternatives for their next purchase.
CBRE sold three of Callista's four villas off the plan, but held back one of them to sell completed. Alroe Constructions have just finished the build.
The remaining villa has around 225 sqm of living space, with four-bedrooms, three-bathrooms, three separate living and entertainment zones, double lock-up garage and undercover storage for surf and paddle boards.
The villa is arguably the best, Quayle says. It occupies the prime north-eastern end of the block, giving it an abundance of natural light.
C2 Architecture worked in collaboration with Louise Walsh Interiors to craft Callista, a cool coastal vibe paired with modern touches. Think natural timber elements blended with curved stone, customised fluted joinery pieces and rippled glass in wet rooms. One of the most striking features is the nine-metre-high window void that flanks the open stairwell to maximise natural light.
A key feature of Callista, which gives it the feeling of a home rather than a townhouse, is the interface with the street. Garages and driveways front the street, whereas typical townhouse projects are serviced by internal roads and driveway handles.
The majority of enquiries have come from owner-occupiers, Quayle says, adding that the buyers, who will move in soon, will be relocating from as close as Mermaid Waters and as far as London.
Chapter Two are working on another townhouse project in nearby Tugun. Alroe Constructions recently broke ground on their Eden project, a collection o five home-sized, park fronting villas located beachside of the highway.