Monarch Place Southport Review & Guide

The building and the residences

Monarch Place rises 30 storeys above central Southport, with a sculptural form conceived by Kris Kowalski. The listing describes house-sized proportions, open-plan layouts and deep sheltered balconies, with full-height acoustic double glazing and outlooks over the Southport Broadwater, the Pacific Ocean and the Gold Coast hinterland.

Interiors come in three colour schemes. Kitchens are fitted with engineered stone benchtops, bespoke joinery, 900mm European cooking appliances and integrated dishwashers. Main bedrooms have custom wardrobes and ensuites with freestanding soaking baths, brushed gold fixtures and full-height porcelain tiling.

At street level, the listing describes a porte cochère and double-height lobby connecting to boutique dining and retail. Body corporate fees are estimated from $244 per week, and the figure for your lot is confirmed in its disclosure statement. Our guide to body corporate costs and tax treatment explains how levies work.

The smaller plans suit buyers who want a central address with a manageable footprint. The Type N one-bedroom plan on Levels 8 to 16 faces north-east toward the Broadwater, while the Type X and M compact one-bedroom plans on Levels 8 to 22 face west, toward the hinterland sunsets. The three-bedroom plans on the upper levels combine generous terraces with ocean and Broadwater outlooks, and the listing describes the sub-penthouses and penthouses as having private swimming pools and entertaining terraces.

The Monarch Imperial Club

The Monarch Imperial Club occupies Level 6 and is the tower's main resident amenity. The facilities listed include:

• A 600m² lagoon swimming pool with a lower sun terrace
• Hot and cold magnesium plunge pools
• A cedar sauna and steam room
• A poolside bar
• A private cinema and golf simulator
• A resident library lounge
• A grand ballroom with a stage

Facilities of this kind are shared by every owner and funded through the body corporate, so ask for the budget and the sinking fund forecast when you receive the contract documents.

Location and getting around

The tower is in the Southport centre, with the light rail and the main shopping centre both on foot. These are measured distances from the site:

• Southport G:link Station: 700m · 9 min walk
• St Hilda's School Southport: 700m · 9 min walk
• Australia Fair Shopping Centre: 800m · 10 min walk
• The Southport School (TSS): 1.3km · 3 min drive
• Tedder Avenue Dining Precinct: 1.4km · 3 min drive
• Marina Mirage Waterfront Dining: 1.6km · 3 min drive
• Main Beach Foreshore Reserve: 1.7km · 3 min drive
• HOTA (Home of the Arts) Parklands: 3.0km · 5 min drive
• Gold Coast University Hospital: 3.3km · 6 min drive
• Surfers Paradise State School: 4.4km · 7 min drive

The G:link light rail runs along the Gold Coast, which gives residents a way to reach Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach without a car. To compare Southport with other precincts on the coast, our Brisbane and Gold Coast comparison and the Broadbeach prestige apartment guide are useful starting points.

Monarch Place is Stage 2 of the Imperial Square masterplan in central Southport, so it is worth visiting the area on a weekday and a weekend to see how it feels at different times. Compare the walk to the light rail, the schools and the shops against your own routine, and ask the sales team which stage of the masterplan each nearby building belongs to.

The developer

Azzura Investments Worldwide was established in 1989 by Roberto Badalotti and has delivered more than 2,600 residential, resort and commercial suites, representing more than $1.5 billion in completed developments across Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Its earlier projects include the Wings Residential Resort and Day Spa in Surfers Paradise, Palazzo Colonnades and Azzura Greens Resort at Hope Island.

A developer's history is one input in a purchase decision. Our guide to vetting developers and builders sets out what else to check, including the builder, the funding position and the contract terms.

Buying off the plan at Monarch Place

Off the plan purchases involve a contract signed well before the building is finished. Read the sunset clause, the deposit arrangements and the rights to rescind, and understand what happens if completion is delayed. Our guide to sunset clauses and your rights in Queensland covers these terms, and the stamp duty guide for off the plan purchases explains the concessions that may apply.

Overseas buyers should also review the foreign investment rules in our guide to FIRB approval for off the plan homes. Before you sign, have your solicitor review the contract and disclosure statement and speak with your broker about finance. To discuss which residences suit your budget, speak with our property specialists.