Beckdev planning tribute to a long-forgotten history after securing prime Coolangatta site

Developer Beckdev is planning to revive a long-lost piece of the Gold Coast’s social history in a landmark residential project it is planning for a newly acquired site at Coolangatta.

Beckdev, a company founded by the Beck family and chaired by development industry veteran Max Beck, has beaten strong competition to secure the 31-35 McLean Street site.

The property comprises two lots totalling 2355sqm, with the former Jazzland building occupying just one of the lots, and the other used as a carpark.

Beckdev was among six local and interstate buyers vying for the property through an expressions of interest campaign that closed on April 14. The purchase price has not been disclosed.

The developer has now given renowned Gold Coast design firm BDA Architects a brief to create an architectural innovative design for the high-profile site that will be sympathetic to the nostalgia and history of the location.

Jazzland, which at one stage was known as Jazzland Dance Palais, was one of many jazz halls that popped up in Coolangatta in the late 1930’s. 

Jazzland officially closed in 1951 and its history and building lost to successive commercial and retail tenants for three generations since.

“This site holds an important part of the history of Coolangatta and our final design will reflect that,” says Beckdev director Ben Beck.

“Our connection to the past underpins our sense of community, so it’s our intention to restore, re-use and recreate this unique social heritage to ensure the façade and dance floor live on in some form.”

Ben and Max Beck are renowned for delivering a foray of quality and landmark developments in Sydney and Melbourne, including one of Australia’s most important hertitage building restorations in 333 Collins Street in Melbourne. 

Ben Beck and his family now count themselves as locals, having relocated to the Gold Coast from Melbourne after previously living here for many years when younger were he met his wife.

“My wife grew up on the Gold Coast and we were keen to return here to bring up our young family and to enjoy the best the Coast has to offer with a more relaxed lifestyle, great schools and the best beaches in Australia,” said Mr Beck.

“We’re delighted to have secured such a prominent site for an exciting new residential development in the heart of Coolangatta, just a stone’s throw from one of the Gold Coast’s iconic beaches.

“We’re now working closely with BDA’s architects to ensure this project is welcomed by the local community for an innovative design that also pays tribute to a long-forgotten part of our history that delighted so many generations before us.”