Described as Man Caves, She Sheds or sometimes even Dens of Equality, the need and desire for comfortable commercial spaces is growing on the Gold Coast. 

Finding a secure space in which to store, create and connect outside of the home or office is an ongoing challenge for small business owners, creatives and those whose possessions simply outweigh their capacity to store them. 

The preference for boutique apartment living in beachside locales has further given rise to the need for more than a carpark and a storage cage to satisfy the requirements of those owners with a collection of leisure toys or even prized artwork. 

Often referred to as Man Caves or She Sheds, these spaces have evolved to a point where creature comforts such as kitchenettes, bathrooms and air conditioning are included to create an inviting and versatile space suited to a range of end users.

Gold Coast-based Baja has recently launched its $50 million Sanctuary project, which has been approved for a 5,542m2 site at 515 Olsen Avenue, Southport. 

The architect-designed spaces take the humble storage shed to a whole new level of class and comfort, using residential finishes to deliver a new breed of high-end Man Cave.

The concept has been developed by Baja Directors Ben McArthur and Jordan Powell who identified a gap in the market for more luxurious industrial and commercial spaces. 

“Gone are the days when you just slap up sheds and put a roller door on the front, the potential end uses go far beyond a lock and leave unit,” says Ben. 

“We want these spaces to be a home away from home that people can emotionally attach themselves to and enjoy spending time in.” 

Each multi-level space is air-conditioned and includes a kitchenette and bathroom with a shower and sleek black tapware. Full mezzanine levels will have timber flooring while ground floors are to be finished in a showroom-style epoxy resin.

Walls and ceilings are painted, with LED downlights throughout, and you can enter through a front door or via a discreet 3-metre roller door suitable for larger prized toys and possessions. 

Spaces range from 85m2 to 151m2 and are set over three levels, connected by a lift. Clearance heights total six metres on the first level, seven metres on the second level and up to four metres on the rooftop level. Pricing starts at $470,000.

Agent Adam Grbcic of Kollosche Commercial, which has been appointed to bring the project to market, says the demand for stylish industrial spaces is booming on the Gold Coast. 

“The concentration of seaside apartment living on the Gold Coast is one factor driving the need for more spaces in which people can store their prized possessions,” says Mr Grbcic.

“More flexible work arrangements also mean professional people are seeking suitable space outside of the office or their home in which to create and connect. 

“The rise in e-Commerce ventures is another factor, with those operators needing large spaces in which to store products ready for shipping.”

The Southport location offers easy access to the M1 and Smith Street Motorway with a range of major infrastructure and amenities close by.

Mr Grbcic says a 6 per cent yield and 12-month rent guarantee make this asset class appealing for investors as well, particularly those buying through a self managed super fund.

“The increasing cost and limited supply of storage on the Gold Coast makes buying a more viable option when rental spend is compounded over longer terms,” he says.

The scale of the project and the multi-level design are both firsts for the Gold Coast, inspired by similar projects in Melbourne where similar upmarket community hubs are popular.

“We see Sanctuary as a community in which people can share ideas, refer business and nurture new relationships,” says Ben.

“When you look at the design from the exterior, it has a look and feel that makes it hard to tell if it’s residential property or a commercial operation.

“People are craving more space in which to create and connect with people outside of the home or a traditional office, so it makes sense to blend the best of both within an industrial product.”

For more information, please contact: Adam Grbcic 0404 087 772 Tony Grbcic 0407 968 667.