El Parasol apartments set for Maroochydore
Maroochydore is set for a rare new development a stone's throw from the Maroochy River.
Rocking Horse Constructions has been given the green light by the Sunshine Coast Council to developer El Parasol, a new 12-level apartment with 53 apartments.
Ferro Chow Architecture has designed the building at 15-17 Ocean Street. The designs units have been inspired by the surrounding ocean and the dynamic lifestyle of the area, the architecture firm says.
El Parasol's approved design will bring 16 two-bedroom apartments, 32 three-bedroom units—half of which will feature a study—and four four-bedroom penthouses on the top floor.
The development will also include communal facilities on level three, such as a swimming pool, spa with cabanas, a gym, and a kitchen and dining area.
The ground level will house a hospitality venue, while level two and part of level three will accommodate four two-level office spaces. Parking for the development includes 128 spaces, divided among residents, visitors, retail, and office users.
The architectural vision, as submitted to the Sunshine Coast Council, is to create a multi-residential community that integrates a food and drink outlet, office spaces, and dwellings, fostering a vibrant and interconnected neighbourhood.
The design of the building incorporates earthy materials such as off-form concrete, timber, and rammed earth, with landscaping elements like hanging planters and perimeter planting to help blend the structure into its coastal environment.
Ferro Chow Architecture said the street-level experience will be activated with greenery, creating a connection between common areas and the surrounding entertainment precinct.
The building will sit directly across from Big Top Shopping Centre, in an area that has seen limited residential supply in recent years.
This version of the El Parasol project is a scaled-back iteration of an earlier plan approved in 2020, which included 66 apartments and 44 short-term accommodation units across a larger site. The currently approved design reflects a more compact project on a 2,190 sqm site that was previously a retail strip.
Maroochydore is continuing to grow into a new hub for South East Queensland and the Sunshine Coast region.
Most of the activity in Maroochydore is geared toward the new greenfield CBD, with Habitat Development Group and Walker Corp the busiest developers in the precinct.
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at Apartments.com.au, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country’s most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the off the plan property market. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia’s evolving development landscape.
He holds a degree in Business Management with a major in Journalism from Leeds Beckett University in the UK, and has developed a particular expertise in off the plan apartment space. Joel’s editorial lens spans the full lifecycle of a project—from site acquisition and planning approvals through to new launches, construction completions, and final sell-out—delivering trusted, buyer-focused content that supports informed decision-making across the property journey
