Rainbow Bay is the titleholder of ‘Queensland’s Cleanest Beach’ and home to renowned surfing breaks Snapper Rocks and Duranbah, which makes it a highly desirable place to live. "This makes perfect sense because once you’ve been in this part of the world you always want to come back," says John Mayer of Ray White Mermaid Beach, who along with his wife Nicole has already sold 65 percent of the beachfront apartments in the boutique development The Garland at Rainbow Bay on the Gold Coast.

The development at 192 Marine Parade, Coolangatta, is owned by registered charity Service Personnel Anglican Help Society (SPAHS). It is located on the former St George’s House site directly opposite Rainbow Bay and named in honour of the founder of SPAHS, the Reverend Canon David John Garland. St George’s House was demolished in January and Hutchinson Builders have begun on-site construction including excavation and earthworks. The 11 level complex is due to be completed in late 2016. SPAHS will retain the lower three floors and continue to trade with subsidized holiday accommodation for retired and serving Defence Force personnel, some merchant navy personnel, their spouses, widows and dependent children.

Mayer said only six of the 18 luxury three bedroom apartments at The Garland remain on the market while one of the two magnificent four bedroom penthouses has already been sold. All buyers to date have been locals or from interstate. The remaining apartments are for sale for $1,675,000 while the penthouse is priced from $3,695,000.