110 Sixth Avenue "Maroochy Sands"

The first high-rise to match 'Kinkabool' - Maroochy Sands – was opened in Maroochydore in April 1971. At eleven storeys it was the tallest building erected in the Sunshine Coast, dwarfing the surrounding urban development in Maroochydore at the time. The building was designed by Colin Balchin & Associates and built by Kinkora Constructions, the developer of the building, at a cost of just over $1 million. The building opened with 50 fully-furnished apartments, four shops, swimming pool, restaurant and charcoal grill.

The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of the region’s history.

Maroochy Sands is important in demonstrating the evolution of the Sunshine Coast Council area. The first high rise in the Sunshine Coast Council area, it reflects changing architectural trends in the second half of the twentieth century, especially regarding holiday accommodation (which previously had consisted of flats, boarding houses and hotels) and the influence of this style of development in the seaside resort of Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. The high rise is also symbolic of the resistance to the so-called ‘Gold Coast’ style of development in the Sunshine Coast Council area, a prominent theme that continues to frame public discussion of development on the Sunshine Coast today.

The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places important to the region.

Maroochy Sands is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of integrated high rise holiday accommodation built from the 1970s in the Sunshine Coast Council area. In addition to its Modernist design, features such as shops, pool and the multi-level parking garage reflect the prominent design considerations of such a development in the period.

Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 Amended 24 August 2020