Largest music venue and hotel on Coast

Published 7:00am 30 August 2022

Words by Nick Crockford

Plans have been unveiled by The Comiskey Group, based at Eatons Hill, for the largest music and hotel venue on the Sunshine Coast.

The $35 million venue at Stockland’s Aura development, south of Caloundra, will be back onto an 11-hectare South Bank style parkland.

Aura Hotel aims to build on the Sunshine Coast’s reputation as a live music hub by attracting local, national and international artists.

Icons such as Prince, Post Malone, Khalid, Joan Jett, Ice Cube, Good Charlotte and Bryan Adams have appeared at The Comiskey Group’s Eatons Hill and Sandstone Point Hotel.

Star names

Now the company plans to bring music heavyweights to the Aura Hotel with top sound, lighting, a band room and mezzanine level for up to 2500 patrons.

There will also be internal and alfresco dining areas, six bars, and a gaming room or function spaces at the venue expected to open in late 2024.

“South East Queensland is where we were born and raised,” said Comiskey Group Director Rob Comiskey, “we are passionate about bringing premium experiences to locations rich with opportunity in this thriving state.

“We have the largest entertainment offering in the Moreton Bay region and felt it only natural to expand into the neighbouring Sunshine Coast.”

Gap in market

“Aura sits just 10 minutes from our Coochin Fields (festival) site, so we’re excited to create a thriving epicentre of entertainment for the Sunshine Coast.”

Comiskey Group’s Entertainment Director Jonathan (Jono) Jackson said: "We saw a gap in the market in terms of live music venues.

“The region’s population growth creates demand for premium production opportunities locally. Sunshine Coast and Aura residents can expect world-class talent on their doorstep!”

Josh Sondergeld, Project Director at Stockland Aura, said: “We look forward to welcoming this venue which will become a recreational hub for our residents and visitors to enjoy a family meal, celebrate a milestone or attend a major live international act.”

Festival site

Today’s announcement comes just weeks after The Comiskey Group unveiled plans for Coochin Fields, a 150-hectare outdoor festival site 10 minutes from Aura.

And days after details were released about the new Strathpine Xcentre, with two indoor sports/recreation centres, a hotel/club, restaurants and a drive thru.

Aura is a 6-star Green Star rated community and is already home to more than 10,000 residents, with the potential for 20,000 new homes and 20,000 on-site jobs upon completion.

The future centre will include a regional shopping centre, cinemas, restaurants, cafes, medical facilities, an urban university campus, private schools, transit centre and public spaces.