SURFER: An Address Shaped By SURF ROYALTY

WORDS: Annie Hourahane PHOTOGRAPHY Matt Porteous & Cait Miers for WSL

Gold Coast developer Bastion Development Group officially announces partnership with two of Australia’s rising surf stars, Dane Henry and Milla Coco Brown, to ensure its next residential venture, Surfer, isn’t just an address but a community shaped by surf culture.

Gold Coast developer Bastion Development Group is signalling a new direction in coastal living, placing surf culture at the centre of its latest $180 million residential project, Surfer in Surfers Paradise.

Rather than borrowing the language of the coast, Bastion has partnered directly with it, appointing two of Australia’s most exciting emerging surf talents, Dane Henry and Milla Coco Brown, as project ambassadors and creative contributors to Surfer.

The duo will work closely with Bastion’s design and development teams, offering first-hand insight into how coastal life is actually lived – from daily routines shaped by tides to the practical realities of coming home from the ocean.

Both athletes are rising fast on the international stage ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games. Henry was recently crowned the 2025/26 WSL World Junior Champion and awarded the Rip Curl wildcard for the Bells Beach Pro, a WSL World Championship Tour event. Meanwhile, Brown is one of Australia’s most promising young surfers, quickly establishing herself as a global talent with multiple victories on the pro junior tour and recognised as one of the world’s best female aerial surfers.

Dane Henry

Together, they represent surfing’s next generation: fearless, fluid and deeply connected to place. “Surfing dictates our schedules, how we live,” Brown said. “We want to create something that fits around that coastal lifestyle, and feels like home, and that’s what Bastion’s Surfer will be.” Henry added, “We’ll be working closely with the team at Bastion to make sure the building reflects how people actually want to live near the ocean.” “Bastion is creating something truly special at Surfer – it will be a project designed with the realities of a coastal lifestyle in mind, a place where we can relax and escape the madness of our everyday lives.”

In a move that underscores the project’s authenticity, both Henry and Brown will purchase apartments within Surfer, drawn by its lifestyle focus and genuine connection to the ocean.

For Bastion, the appointments mark a broader shift in how coastal developments are created, not by trend, but by real-life experience. CEO Alex Wood said the group was deliberately moving away from surface-level references toward a more authentic interpretation of beachside living.

“We are extremely pleased to announce our partnership with both Dane Henry and Milla Coco Brown,” said Mr Wood. “Dane and Milla understand what it means to live around the ocean – not as an idea, but as a daily practice.”

CLOUD 9, SIARGAO ISLAND, PHILIPPINES – OCTOBER 28: Milla Coco Brown of Australia surfs in Heat 3 of the Round of 32 at the Siargao International Surfing Cup on October 28, 2025 at Cloud 9, Siargao Island, Philippines. (Photo by Cait Miers/World Surf League)

Architecturally, Surfer leans into this ethos. Designed by Studio Snell, Surfer’s striking design was inspired by the form of a surfboard – a subtle nod to the energy and movement of the Gold Coast itself.

With the development application now lodged, Surfer is poised to rise 30 floors with 100 two-bedroom apartments, each with expansive functional living spaces, and is destined to become the ultimate Coastal address.

Located at 27 Vista Street, Surfers Paradise, residents can benefit from a walkable village lifestyle, where the famous Gold Coast beaches, premium restaurants, shops, Northcliffe Surf Club and cafes are just moments away.

CLOUD 9, SIARGAO ISLAND, PHILIPPINES – OCTOBER 27: Milla Coco Brown of Australia surfs in Heat 4 of the Round of 48 at the Siargao International Surfing Cup on October 27, 2025 at Cloud 9, Siargao Island, Philippines. (Photo by Cait Miers/World Surf League)

The development has been designed to cater to a wide demographic, including short-stay residents and investors, to long-term residential living.

Notably, residents can indulge in an exclusive suite of amenities tailored to support the rhythm of coastal life, including an EMF-designed gym, resort-style pool, in-apartment room service, a dedicated kids’ zone, exclusive residents’ spaces with private plunge pools, and podium parking.

With construction slated to start in 2026 by Bastion Built, Surfer won’t just be another coastal project – it will be a celebration of everyday life by the ocean, crafted by real-life experience.

Click here: www.bastion.group for more