Marina Mirage shuts its doors ahead of a $500 million makeover
The billionaire owners of Marina Mirage on the Gold Coast have shut the doors on the famous 1980s shopping centre as they press go on a $500 million makeover they say will mark the birth of The Australian Riviera.
Developed by Christopher Skase and opened in 1988, the waterfront retail, residential and mixed-use complex on the Spit has been owned by Adelaide-based family company Makris Group since 2013. The new project is being billed as the most significant investment in the Spit since it was created in 1986.
This next chapter will swap tired retail for a luxury, low-rise village that blends superyacht marina culture with a top-of-the-range hotel and ultra-premium residences right on the water.
Chief executive Jason Makris said they expect demolition of the existing centre to kick off around February or March, with the full project slated for completion in 2029.
“We’re establishing the benchmark in Australia for a destination that embodies the sophistication of a Riviera lifestyle yet feels unmistakably Australian,” he said.
“Residents and visitors will move effortlessly from their yacht to their villa, to fine dining, curated retail, and world-class leisure and wellbeing experiences.”
At the heart of the new precinct will be the 126-key Marina Mirage Gold Coast, a Luxury Collection Resort by Marriott International – the first of its kind on Australia’s mainland – bringing one of the world’s most recognisable high-end hotel brands to the strip.
Wrapped around the resort will be a low-rise, eco-aligned village featuring 38 ultra-exclusive residences, seven restaurants and eight high-end boutiques. A 2000-square-metre longevity and wellness precinct is planned, promising “clinical-grade recovery”, biohacking, fitness and holistic wellness programs. Another 1000 square metres of flexible event space will cater to functions, pavilions, rooftop events and co-working.
All of this ties into the already-completed 78-berth superyacht marina, finished in late 2021, which can host vessels from 12 metres up to 85 metres and includes helipad access for those arriving in serious style.
Not everything will go dark straight away: selected waterfront restaurants will keep trading until January 2026, with on-site parking still available during that period.
The construction phase is expected to generate around $865 million in economic activity, with the project forecast to contribute $120 million a year post-opening and support about 400 ongoing jobs.
The Makris Group originally bought the Marina Mirage shopping centre for $52 million in 2013, then picked up the marina from receivers a few months later for $7.1 million.
Makris said the post-Covid shift in retail patterns meant the asset was ripe for a rethink and had evolved into a redevelopment opportunity.
Jonathan Jackson, 18th November 2025
