A major refurbishment of one of Noosa’s most recognisable beachfront buildings is highlighting the growing pressure on ageing coastal properties to invest in upgrades as maintenance demands intensify.
McNab Building Services (MBS) has completed a full structural and aesthetic renewal of Number One in Hastings Street, a 24-apartment complex at Noosa Heads, delivering a comprehensive top-to-bottom revitalisation on behalf of the property’s body corporate.
The project comes as many strata buildings across Australia reach an age where significant maintenance and remediation is unavoidable. According to the Australasian Strata Insights 2024 report, around half of all strata schemes nationally were registered before 2000, meaning a large portion of the building stock is now more than 25 years old.
superintendent Martin Galbraith from Galbraith Scott Pty Ltd.
Head of McNab Building Services Dan Moore said this milestone often marks the point where deterioration accelerates, particularly in harsh coastal environments. “Number One in Hastings Street in Noosa Heads highlights the growing need for proactive investment in older body corporate buildings, particularly those within a few kilometres of the coastline where structures face the harshest conditions,” Dan said. “Across Australia we’re now seeing the impact of long-term under-investment in maintenance of coastal and strata buildings. When preventative work is delayed, the coastal environment quickly compounds issues like corrosion and water ingress, often resulting in upgrade costs up to four times higher than an ongoing maintenance program.”
Dan said expectations around the appearance and performance of buildings were also increasing as Queensland prepares to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. “All eyes will be on Queensland in the lead up to and during the Games and expectations will be high that buildings are looking their best,” he said. “This, combined with growing pressure on the construction industry to deliver major infrastructure, means body corporates and owners of tourism assets should be investing now rather than later.”
The scope of works at Number One in Hastings Street was extensive and carefully coordinated to minimise disruption to residents and visitors. It included full exterior repainting, waterproofing, concrete repairs, corrosion control and the installation of custom-fabricated metalwork designed to improve the building’s longevity while respecting its beachfront setting.
A major component of the project was the replacement of the building’s main lift, along with refurbishment of its inclinator system, a defining feature of the property. Several components of the inclinator were custom designed and manufactured to integrate seamlessly with the existing infrastructure.
Externally, the refurbishment also delivered significant landscaping improvements, including new retaining walls, upgraded planting schemes, irrigation systems and lighting to enhance both functionality and visual appeal.
Project superintendent Martin Galbraith from Galbraith Scott Pty Ltd said the body corporate’s decision to proceed with the works was well timed. “Acting early isn’t just good practice, it protects owners from far more disruptive and costly repairs down the track,” Martin said. “Body corporates and owners often delay these decisions due to the inconvenience and expense, but it doesn’t get easier. The costs and impacts simply accumulate and amplify the longer you wait.” He said the completed works had provided reassurance for owners and residents alike.
Dan said McNab Building Services was seeing strong demand for similar remediation and rejuvenation projects across South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales, driven by ageing buildings, population growth and rising expectations from residents and visitors.“Buildings in premium locations need to evolve if they’re going to remain competitive,” he said.