Local media has reported that the first Trump Tower is set to be constructed in Australia, with plans for the A$1.5 billion project progressing.
If completed, the 91-storey Trump Tower at Surfers Paradise Resort on Queensland’s Gold Coast will become the tallest building in Australia, taking over the title currently held by Australia’s 108 skyscraper in Melbourne.
“The 91-storey Trump International Hotel & Tower on the Gold Coast in Surfers Paradise will include the country’s first Trump-branded hotel, 272 luxury residences, a private beach club, and premium retail and dining options,” states the Trump Hotels website.
“Promoted as Australia’s tallest tower, this landmark aims to redefine beachfront elegance with top-notch amenities, distinctive design, and unobstructed views of the Gold Coast,” the statement adds.
On Monday morning, David Young, the CEO of Altus Property Group, shared that this building is projected to be the highest in Australia by the decade’s end. He also mentioned that a construction contract was signed with the Trump Organization on February 14 at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
The site for the tower is located at 3 Trickett Street in Surfers Paradise, with construction expected to start this year. Altus is looking to employ at least 500 workers during the construction phase and hopes to provide as many jobs once the project is completed.
“Crucially, this project is both Australian-owned and built. Decisions will be made by Altus Resorts Pte Ltd., a subsidiary of Altus, in line with President Trump’s design requirements. It’s an Australian undertaking, not an American one,” Young emphasized in a statement.
“While there’s no Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton branding on the building, it does say ‘Trump’. That signifies that no expense was spared, ensuring the highest quality for this structure—truly, the best building in the world,” he added.
Young noted that this project has been in the works for nearly 20 years and that he initially proposed the idea in 2007 during a call with Ivanka Trump.
“Trump hotels and resorts are top-tier. That’s what I aimed to create,” he remarked.
As reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the construction site has been empty for over a decade. It was sold in 2019 for $56 million by Chinese developer Forise to a group of investors.
A spokesperson from the Gold Coast City Council confirmed that Mayor Tom Tait met with the Trump Organization on February 13. The site has city council approval for an 89-story tower, but Deputy Mayor Mark Hummel mentioned that Altus must submit a new formal development application for Trump Tower.
“We welcome investment in our city. It reflects confidence in our area and ultimately creates jobs,” Hummel stated.
