Australian marina sets new benchmark in waterfront living

Australia’s first luxury homes to float on the sea have been unveiled as part of the $40 million Dockside Port Vincent project planned for South Australia’s Port Vincent marina. The project will be developed by the Adelaide-based Lillis Group over three stages in the South Australian coastal holiday hamlet of Port Vincent.

In addition to the floating houses, the plan includes a five-storey apartment complex, complete with retail, cafés and co-working spaces, and eight townhouses, six of which will be waterfront properties with access to a shared pontoon.
Dockside project director, Peter Villis, says the development will set a new benchmark for waterfront living, holidaying, investing or working remotely. The first homes were released for sale on 1st October.
“Port Vincent is a relaxed holiday destination on the Yorke Peninsula a little more than two hours’ drive from Adelaide or one hour cruise across St Vincent Gulf, which provides some of Australia’s best sailing,” he said.
Each home has been designed by renowned architects Dragonfly Afloat, will be moored within the marina, and arranged over three levels with 221m² (2,380ft²) of living space. With front and rear decks on levels one and two, and a rooftop deck for 360° views of the St Vincent Gulf, the designs are available with two or three bedroom options.
The floating houses will be dual keyed, creating an option to convert each dwelling into two separate apartments. A floating café, which has attracted interest from a significant gin distillery, will be built alongside the homes.
Villis said the homes will be appointed to the highest standards, with additional pontoon berths available within the marina for those buyers looking to sail or cruise across the Gulf and moor near their home. Construction is due to begin in early 2023.
The floating homes will be eco-friendly and move away from typical water-vessel accommodation by offering a liveable, contemporary, functional, self-sufficient and off-grid space on the water.
Dragonfly Afloat’s assembly method is claimed to be unique worldwide. It allows for construction from start to finish, on the water. No cranes or launch site is needed. This technology developed for on-water construction allows for a 10 to 15 week assembly period, without the cost of dry land access, cranes, trucks, road fees and ecological damage that occurs while launching large vessels onto the water.
The houses will have a maintenance-free polyethylene UV protected ‘hull’ and feature 5H treated timber and marine grade stainless steel fittings and fixtures, which should also require no maintenance. Drinking water comes from a desalination/purification system (no water bills) and electricity from solar panels. All sewage is macerated and purified but houses will be connected to mains sewers so as to ensure absolute clearance from the marina.
The townhouses, designed by Shape Architects, have three or four bedrooms and exclusive access to a shared pontoon, and the Dockside apartment complex includes a swimming pool and an entertainment pontoon, gymnasium, rooftop events and function space. It has stunning views of the marina, township and across the St Vincent Gulf. The five-storey complex, with 52 apartments, has been designed by Studio Nine architects.
“Our vision is for Dockside Port Vincent to become a draw card in its own right and a catalyst for regional tourism and service operators to drive economic activity in the region,” Villis explained. “It will be the perfect home base for sailing and nautical events, as well as being located on the Walk and Yorke trail and alongside the 300 million year old granite boulders, known as The Erratics.”
“We have had significant interest in the project so far,” he confirmed.