An icon reborn – Marina Mirage is set to enter a new era as Makris Group unveils $500-million transformation
A new era is taking shape on the Broadwater. Marina Mirage – the waterfront home to long lunches, sun-drenched celebrations and Gold Coast glamour since 1988 – is now embarking on a $500-million transformation. The precinct that once introduced the city to designer boutiques, luxury retail and marina-side dining is now preparing for its most significant evolution yet, one that promises to redefine coastal sophistication for the next generation. Here’s what we know …
When Marina Mirage first opened, it shifted the Gold Coast’s identity overnight. Developed by controversial businessman and property tycoon Christopher Skase, the centre quickly became a beacon of high-end fashion and dining, drawing thousands daily and attracting international heavyweights such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Loewe. It set a benchmark for waterfront luxury that shaped the cultural and social fabric of the city. Now, nearly four decades on, that legacy is being reimagined under the vision of Makris Group, which has owned Marina Mirage since 2013.
The redevelopment of Marina Mirage marks what the Makris team describes as “the most significant investment ever undertaken along the Gold Coast’s Southport Spit” – an ambitious new chapter designed to introduce a level of sophistication the Gold Coast has not yet seen.
“This builds on the vision of my father, Con Makris, who recognised early the Gold Coast’s potential as a world-class coastal destination,” says CEO Jason Makris. “We are establishing the benchmark in Australia for a destination that embodies the sophistication of a Riviera lifestyle yet feels unmistakably Australian. Residents and visitors will move effortlessly from their yacht to their villa, to fine dining, curated retail, and world-class leisure and wellbeing experiences.”
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At the heart of the redevelopment is a landmark partnership with Marriott International, bringing to life Marina Mirage Gold Coast — a Luxury Collection Resort, the first of its kind on mainland Australia. The resort will feature 126 elegantly appointed guest rooms, balancing understated luxury with contemporary Australian design and an inherent sense of place.
The precinct surrounding it will be entirely reimagined. A village-like waterfront environment will unite fine dining, boutique retail, wellness experiences and premium residential living featuring 38 residences and villas. Seven chef-led dining concepts, eight luxury boutiques and a 2000–sqm longevity and wellness centre (complete with clinical-grade recovery, biohacking technologies and fully integrated wellbeing programs) will anchor the new Marina Mirage.
Honouring the site’s nautical heritage, the award-winning 78-berth superyacht marina will remain operational throughout construction. Accommodating vessels from 12 to 85 metres and offering helipad access, it enables seamless yacht-to-villa or yacht-to-resort transitions — an integral part of the precinct’s Riviera-inspired lifestyle.
Though the centre has now closed to begin its transformation, select waterfront restaurants will continue operating until January 2026. The full redevelopment is slated for completion in 2029, ushering in a new era that elevates both the precinct and the region’s global profile.