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Ivana
moves in, by Linda Brady
(Credit:
The Whitsunday Times)
The Gold Coast may have captivated hotel heiress Paris
Hilton but it is Airlie Beach which has wooed glamour
queen Ivana Trump as the millionairess unveiled plans
this week for a $150 million luxury condominium development
near Abel Point Marina.
The
ex-wife of American business tycoon Donald Trump released
plans on Tuesday for what is being described as an
"ultra-luxury" apartment development in
Airlie Beach overlooking the Whitsunday islands.
The
42-unit complex, to be known as Ivana Great Barrier
Reef is tipped to set new benchmarks for luxury in
the region, with the apartments expected to sell for
a cool $6 million. Project developers, Sydney-based
company Aquiplan said the complex will be set on just
over a hectare of land and will include a massive
45m sandy lagoon, spa areas including a four metre
wide circular hot spa and sauna, and two swimming
pools overlooking the Coral Sea.
The
development’s promotional material also describes
a "natural ravine of sheer rock walls, verdant
greenery and cascading waterfalls complete with hot
springs."
Residents
of the three-bedroom condos will also enjoy exclusive
use of a 70ft fully-skippered luxury cruiser, and
an "opulent" gymnasium including day spa,
floatation tank and steam room.
Speaking
to the Whitsunday Times on Monday Aquiplan chief John
Stavrou said the inclusion of Ivana Trump in the design
and creation of the complex was "very exciting"
and added a further touch of class to the project.
"It’s
a great project and very exclusive," he said.
Airlie
Beach architect James Riddell who, together with graduate
architect Nick Moss, has been involved in the project
since it began 18 months ago, said the condo complex
will be very different from anything else in the region.
"It
certainly ups the ante for the Whitsundays,"
he said.
"And
they are approaching the sales quite differently too,
aiming very much for the overseas market.
They
are going for people who can write cheques for $3-4
million - the people you read about in the pages of
women’s magazines."
Little
wonder then the Ivana Great Barrier Reef is also selling
itself as a "secure, private, paparazzi-free
complex".
The
apartments are expected to be pitched to an exclusive,
invitation-only client list and may not be commercially
leased, virtually assuring they remain the home of
the rich and famous, including Ms Trump herself.
Mr
Riddell said the arrival of a high-end luxury apartment
complex in the Whitsundays was "long overdue".
"Airlie
really should aim high," he said.
"This
area can tend to undersell itself."
Links
Media
The
Whitsunday Times
Website
Ivana
Haute Couture & Company, Inc.
Profiles
The
Whitsunday Islands
Ivana
Trump
Donald
Trump
Richard
Branson
Mediaman
Property
and Investment Guide
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