Lumina: A Legacy of Innovation and Future Growth

6 minute read

Lumina, located within the dynamic Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP), is a beacon of innovation and progress that has evolved from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Village in 2018. As a dedicated 9.5-hectare commercial cluster to grow life sciences, health, and technology-related businesses, Lumina is anchored by the Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast Private Hospital, Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus and Cohort Innovation Space.

As we look forward to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Lumina is poised to leverage the event to drive further growth and development in these critical sectors.

A Transformative Journey

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games left an indelible mark on the region. The Parklands project in Southport, valued at $550 million, was transformed into the Athletes Village, hosting 6,600 athletes and officials.

Following the Games, this site underwent a remarkable transformation, continuing the evolution of the GCHKP. The previous Athlete Village apartments have now been transformed into the Smith Collective, containing 1252 one, two and three bedroom dwellings, the largest and first ‘Build to Rent’ development in Australia. These are now leased to the generally public, providing affordable accommodation for key workers, frontline health workers, students and the broader community. The broader Precinct supports key institutions such as the Gold Coast University Hospital, a private hospital and Griffith University. The remaining 9.5 hectares of land became Lumina – commercial space for businesses and enterprises to join the Precinct, fostering the growth of health innovation, technology and life-sciences industries.

The site has been transformed into a vibrant mixed-use community featuring retail, businesses, services, and community infrastructure. This transition not only revitalised the area but also laid the foundation for significant economic growth. Once fully developed, the GCHKP is projected to generate $2.9 billion for the local economy and support up to 26,000 jobs. Lumina, at the heart of this development, embodies the successful repurposing of major event infrastructure into a thriving centre for innovation and collaboration.

Lumina’s Thriving Ecosystem

Lumina stands as a testament to the vision of transforming the Games Village into a thriving hub for health, technology, and life sciences. As part of the broader Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, Lumina offers state-of-the-art facilities and a conducive environment for startups, research institutions, and established health, technology and life sciences enterprises.

Beyond its co-location with Griffith University and the Gold Coast University Hospital, Lumina offers extensive opportunities for businesses and innovators. The precinct includes the Cohort Innovation Space, which provides coworking desks, labs, and facilities for startups to scale and grow. Lumina also supports diverse ownership and leasing opportunities for both emerging and established businesses, promoting a seamless transition from startups to scale-ups.

The brand new Proxima development is seeing an influx of enquiries from pediatric-related health services, education and research organisations with key anchor tenants already secured well in advance of opening. And there’s another four developments already under construction or in planning:

• RDX Lumina, a research and development centre focused on health science, medical research, digital health and advanced technology-assisted health, along with specialist medical consulting suites and collaboration spaces
• The Gold Coast Life Sciences Centre, which will cater to medical research, technology and associated medical laboratories, pathology, short-stay hospital, radiology, and allied medical applications.
• The North Star development will cater for medication research and development and health and medical treatment research and development.
• Infin8 Aged Care will be a premium 144-bed residential aged care facility.

Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) is spearheading Lumina’s development over the next 10 to 15 years, combining property development with specialist planning functions. This long-term vision aims to curate a sustainable, universally recognized health and knowledge community on the Gold Coast, empowering collaboration and innovation.

Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Catalysing Growth

The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is expected to bring a $4.6 billion boost to the Queensland economy in tourism and trade alone. But this event also presents a golden opportunity for Lumina and the organisations who call Lumina home, through a broader plan for capitalising on this opportunity to become a lasting legacy – not just at the time of the event for the decade to come afterwards.

The ELEVATE 2042 Legacy Plan envisions how Queensland might leverage the Olympic and Paralympic Games to drive economic, social, and environmental benefits, extending far beyond the event itself. It emphasizes sustainability, inclusivity, and connectivity – all of these aligning perfectly with Lumina’s mission.

“Advancing innovation and creating jobs of the future to accelerate Queensland’s performance, support the transition to a low carbon economy and strengthen Australia’s economic position globally, are critical outcomes that can be enabled by the Games.

The next two decades will stimulate opportunities to realise the full potential of existing and emerging innovation ecosystems, precincts or places with clear alignment to the Olympic and Paralympic Games for example in sport, biomedical, agriculture, tourism and the creative industries. Emerging opportunities in clean tech, sports tech, med tech, enviro tech, energy tech and future focused industries such as renewable energy and critical minerals can all be accelerated by the Games.“

ELEVATE 2042 Legacy Plan

As one of Australia’s leading precincts for health and technology, Lumina is in a prime position to enhance its infrastructure, foster innovation, and support community health initiatives through this global event. The Olympic and Paralympic Games will catalyse significant advancements in Lumina’s core sectors, which may include the following opportunities:

• Enhanced Infrastructure, Transport and Accessibility: Connected and accessible infrastructure, including accessible public spaces and improved transport networks that support greater efficiency for transport, local and international connections. This further aligns with Lumina’s positioning as a premier destination for global talent and investment.

• Potential Infrastructure and Facilities Development in Key Industries: As an innovation-focused precinct, Lumina is in clear alignment with growth industries in health, technology and life sciences.

• Innovation and Research Collaboration: Continued and growing investment in the development of state-of-the-art health and technology facilities within Lumina will continue to enhance its capacity for cutting-edge research and innovation and aligns with fostering the spirit of collaboration among academic institutions, healthcare providers and tech companies.

• Economic Growth and Job Creation: Investment in health, technology, and life sciences driven by the Olympic and Paralympic Games will spur growth for both Lumina and the Gold Coast region, through attracting high-growth industries and high-value jobs, driving sustained economic development and job creation for years to come.

By aligning these opportunities with the vision of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Lumina can leverage the event to drive significant advancements in health, technology, and life sciences, ensuring a lasting legacy of innovation, collaboration, and economic prosperity.

Conclusion

From its origins as the Commonwealth Games Village to its current status as a thriving innovation hub, Lumina exemplifies successful urban transformation. The Precinct’s development has not only revitalised the area but also created a dynamic environment for health, technology, and life sciences to flourish.

Looking ahead to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Lumina is set to leverage this global event to further its mission of fostering innovation, economic growth, and community wellbeing. The ELEVATE 2042 Legacy Plan provides a strategic framework to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the Olympic and Paralympic Games, ensuring that Lumina continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Gold Coast.

Building on its legacy from the Commonwealth Games and embracing the opportunities of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Lumina is poised to become a global leader in health, technology, and life sciences.

For development or office leasing opportunities, please download the Lumina Opportunities Pack.