Between two beaches: Award-winning luxury apartments seek developer
An award-winning apartment concept offering a glimpse of luxury coastal living is ready to rise in Nelson Bay, on a rare site flanked by two beaches – just as soon as a developer steps in to deliver the shovel-ready dream.
Located in the heart of the Port Stephens harbour region, the 1528-square-metre site at 2-6 Kurrawa Close has hit the market with approval in place for a five-storey residential development with sea views, rising above surrounding low-rise homes.
Positioned between the two shorelines – Little Beach 350 metres to the left and Shoal Bay Beach 450 metres to the right – the complex will feature 17 high-end apartments, with the Nelson Bay lighthouse marking the headland between the beaches.
Nearby d’Albora Nelson Bay Marina serves as a focal point for Port Stephens’ boating and waterfront lifestyle, and a launch point for dolphin and whale spotting tours.
Already recognised with a Gold Award at the 2025 Sydney Design Awards, the Nordon Jago-designed scheme centres on a biophilic sanctuary that strengthens the connection between future residents and the surrounding coastal environment, with generous cantilevered terraces.
Inspired by the ocean, the architecture features a sculptural, wave-like facade and expansive glazing to capture panoramic vistas, with integrated planting and greenery throughout. A central atrium draws natural light deep into the building and enhances cross-ventilation.
The complex – dubbed Leilani Residence – offers an incoming developer the flexibility to shape the interiors and finishes.
The project is being offered via an expressions-of-interest campaign through The Rubinstein Group’s James Nixon, head of projects, in conjunction with Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty’s Giorgio Koula.
Nixon says opportunities to secure a site of this scale so close to the water are scarce in one of NSW’s most in-demand lifestyle destinations, about an hour north-east of Newcastle.
“You never get that … that never happens,” he says.
The site’s elevated outlook is a key drawcard, with sweeping blue views expected from level three and above, owing to the surrounding two-storey housing.
“It’s right on the point, like it’s in between a beach and a bay,” Nixon says.
“You definitely get the 180 views over the water from the upper levels.”
The current owners – a syndicate of Sydney-based investors – are moving on after more than two decades. They were initially drawn to the location during family holidays.
“One of them used to go there for holidays as a child,” Nixon says.
“They started acquiring the properties in the early 2000s – they used to holiday there together as families, and that’s what spurred the idea to buy the block.”
Nixon says what began as dreams of a shared coastal retreat has since evolved into a clear pathway for an incoming buyer to swoop into a tightly held market with limited new supply.
The approved plans comprise a mix of two, three and four-bedroom residences and penthouses, spanning about 2214 square metres across internal and outdoor living areas, with basement parking for 39 vehicles.
“The residences are generous – often more than twice the required size – delivering rare spatial freedom in apartment living,” describes Nordon Jago.
“While most developments maximise yield, this project maximises liveability, delivering spacious, light-filled homes designed around wellness, nature, and longevity.”
At present, the site comprises a five-bedroom home and a block of one-bedroom flats, with tenants vacated and the units ready for demolition.
The approved plans are aimed at downsizers, retirees and holiday-home buyers, in line with Nelson Bay’s broader demographics. The picturesque enclave is home to a population of about 5800, with the majority of residents owner-occupiers, aged 60-plus.
“Post-COVID, there’s been a lot of younger families move up there … but like most coastal towns, it’s still driven by that older demographic – the retiree and downsizer,” Nixon says.
The area is also popular among tourists, hosting a growing calendar of events, from waterfront markets to the annual Shoal Bay Food and Wine Festival and Sail Port Stephens.
The project has already attracted strong interest from interstate developers.
“We’ve had a lot of Melbourne developers, Sydney developers and Newcastle developers,” Nixon says.
“I was actually shocked about the Melbourne developers coming in, but I think it’s because it’s so hard down there at the moment, they’re all looking to spread further in NSW and Queensland.”
Nixon says the project’s design kudos – including the Gold Award at the 2025 Sydney Design Awards in the architecture-proposed category – will give buyers confidence in the final product.
“It’s really about taking a very modern design up the coast … and setting a new benchmark for architecture in the suburb,” he says.
