In 1983, Danny Andrews sold a three-bedroom townhouse in Waikanae for $47,000. It was a modest start for a young man who had been flipping houses since the age of 15, but it established a blueprint for a career defined by an appetite for risk and a knack for spotting value where others saw gloom.
Decades later, the former carpenter has scaled his ambitions to a global level. Andrews has recently unveiled his most ambitious project to date: a $1 billion luxury development on Australia’s Gold Coast. The project, known as South Beach, represents the culmination of a journey from a “Kiwi chippie” to a high-stakes developer, and it is designed to capture a exceptionally specific moment in global geopolitics.
The development consists of two 37-story towers featuring nearly 400 apartments. Situated on a 5,700-square-meter corner site just two blocks from the area known as “billionaire’s row” on Surfers Paradise Boulevard, the project is not merely a play on local demand. Instead, it is strategically positioned to attract international buyers who are increasingly wary of instability in the Middle East.
According to Andrews and Don Ha, director of REMAX New Zealand, the timing of the launch coincides with a notable exodus of luxury buyers from Dubai. As conflict in the Middle East disrupts the confidence of high-net-worth investors, the Gold Coast is being marketed as a stable, high-growth alternative. In the words of Ha, “Gold Coast is the new Dubai.”
A Blueprint for High-End Wellness
To differentiate South Beach from the surrounding skyline, Andrews engaged the prestige architecture firm Bates Smart to create a sculptural, curved design. The towers sit atop six levels of parking shielded by green walls, but the true centerpiece is the seventh floor.
Andrews has dedicated an entire 5,500-square-meter podium to a “circuit of wellbeing.” This wellness-focused infrastructure is a response to a growing global trend where luxury buyers prioritize health and longevity over mere square footage. The facility includes three swimming pools, a hammam, Finnish and infra-red saunas, and cold-plunge pools, alongside specialized rooms for sound healing, yoga, and red-light therapy.
For those seeking a slower pace, the podium also houses a cinema, a library, and an outdoor reading terrace. This integration of medical-grade wellness and luxury living is intended to mirror the high-end developments currently transforming Miami, which Andrews views as the primary model for the future of the Gold Coast.
The Economics of the “Billionaire’s Row”
The financial landscape of the Gold Coast has shifted dramatically in recent years. The strip between Surfers Paradise and the luxury Langham Hotel has become a magnet for out-of-state and international capital, creating a concentrated pocket of extreme wealth. Surfers Paradise is now regarded as Queensland’s new “$4 million suburb,” characterized by a higher volume of cash sales than any other postcode in Australia.
The pricing for South Beach reflects this appetite for prestige. Entry-level one-bedroom apartments start at just over A$1 million, while three-bedroom units reach A$2.395 million. The pricing for the penthouses remains undisclosed as they have not yet hit the open market, though previous projects by Andrews have seen penthouses fetch records—one of which he estimates is now worth A$23 million.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Investment | Approx. $1 Billion |
| Structure | Two 37-story towers |
| Unit Count | Nearly 400 apartments |
| Starting Price | A$1 Million+ |
| Expected Completion | End of 2028 |
Current sales data indicates strong early momentum. Seventy of the 197 units in the north tower have already been sold. Interestingly, Andrews intends to retain the south tower entirely, viewing it as a legacy asset for his family.
From House Flipping to High-Rises
The trajectory of the Kiwi chippie’s billion-dollar Gold Coast towers is rooted in a philosophy of contrarianism. Andrews describes his career as a series of “sliding door moments,” the most significant of which occurred in 1999 when he and his wife, Glenda, moved from Auckland to the Gold Coast.
While he had already found success in New Zealand, Andrews sought a new challenge. He spent a decade mastering the Australian residential market before pivoting to multi-unit developments in 2011. This transition occurred during the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), a period when many established developers were retreating.
“When things are gloomy out there and people think it is never going to be great, I see opportunity,” Andrews said. This mindset allowed him to acquire a six-level property with over 50 units at a time when competition had thinned, marking the turning point for his firm.
The business has since become a family affair. His daughter, Sarah, joined the company in 2013 following a tenure at Macquarie Bank, bringing institutional financial discipline to the operation. Together, they have expanded their portfolio from modest apartments in Southport to sculptural towers in Broadbeach and Robina.
The Macro Drivers: Olympics and Migration
The ambition behind South Beach is supported by several long-term economic tailwinds. The upcoming 2032 Olympic Games are expected to drive significant infrastructure investment and international visibility for the region. Simultaneously, a “golden age” of baby boomer migration is pushing wealthy retirees toward the warmer climates of Queensland.
This domestic migration, combined with the strategic targeting of Asian markets—including Vietnam, Korea, and Taiwan—has created a demand surge that Andrews says has forced the company to occasionally “turn the tap off” to manage the volume of inquiries.
Andrews maintains that his intimate knowledge of the local market gives him a competitive edge over billionaire developers from Sydney or Melbourne. He argues that while outside investors may bring larger sums of capital, they lack the nuanced understanding of the Gold Coast’s specific growth patterns.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.
The next major milestone for the project will be the continued phase-out of the north tower’s remaining units, with the final structural and interior work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
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