It wasn’t that long ago that property developer Ken Reed stood on a block of land at the top of Ballinger Road in Buderim imagining what a luxury development in the premium location might look like.

Just twelve months later, the much-anticipated Elevate on Buderim has become a reality with builders Devcon Building Co. handing over the keys to the seven luxury apartments – four of which are sold, including one of the two expansive penthouses – and two commercial properties, including a restaurant.

Ken Reed, Director of HMR Projects, said it was not just the apartment buyers who were looking forward to moving into the $7.5 million high-end development, which is just a few steps from Buderim’s high street.

“We are delighted to welcome restauranteur and renowned executive chef Joo Kim to Elevate on Buderim as he prepares to open the doors to his Honeysuckle Restaurant in the newly finished development this week,” Mr Reed said.

“Many on the Coast will know Joo from his time as Head Chef at Embassy XO in Sunshine Beach and working with Tony Kelly and Scott Hoskins at Junk in Ocean Street, Maroochydore. He is one of the region’s most experienced and outstanding modern Asian chefs and I think Honeysuckle Restaurant will be a great asset to Buderim’s already impressive smorgasbord of restaurants.”

Mr Kim and his team have been hard at work to fit out the impressive restaurant despite the COVID-19 pandemic placing great uncertainty on the hospitality industry. He is confident in his cuisine and excited at the prospect of bringing his unique style of cooking to Buderim.

“Of course the pandemic has placed incredible pressure on the hospitality industry as a whole and this is going to be a very tough time as restaurants rely on people gathering and having a good time as part of the experience,” Mr Kim said.

“Now, culture is changing because of COVID-19. No one knows quite where the culture will move to, but what we do know is that here at Honeysuckle Restaurant we are committed to giving our guests the best possible experience and delicious food made from fresh produce — whether they eat in with us or enjoy our takeaway service at home.

“I believe the key is giving people something new, and most of our menu will offer guests combinations they have never tried before. My two personal recommendations are the Lobster & Flat Rice Noodles with Coconut Miso Bisque and my unique recipe for Brûlée dessert.

“Further adding to the personal experience at Honeysuckle Restaurant is that each piece of crockery is unique, having been carefully crafted by my wife, Peri Kim from Peri Ceramics. I believe this adds a little something special to each dish!”

When asked why Mr Kim settled on Buderim he said it was a combination of the impressively luxurious Elevate on Buderim, the beautiful large Lebek tree which shades the restaurant’s vibrant outdoor area and the restaurant’s great location perched up on Buderim hill, just steps from the village centre.

“Buderim is a really beautiful place – I love this town,” Mr Kim said.

“My boys are going to Buderim Mountain State School and I have found the people here lovely and kind. There aren’t many places where people still greet one another and say ‘hi’ on the way past. The lifestyle here is not too fast, the village has a really good vibration and its central location offers easy access to most parts of the Sunshine Coast.”

When Mr Kim found out that Buderim was named after the Kabi Kabi word for honeysuckle, the restaurant name was easily decided as the delicate flowers are also a common sight in much of southern Asia.

Mr Reed said the response from Buderim locals and those who have purchased in Elevate on Buderim had been overwhelmingly positive and it was great to see the indoor/outdoor restaurant area coming to life.

“Honeysuckle Restaurant was the final piece of the puzzle in creating a lifestyle at Elevate rather than simply building a few apartments,” Mr Reed said.

The second commercial space is home to Property & Estates Sunshine Coast, a boutique full-service agency led by well-known property expert Rick Williams.

“Rick brings close to two decades of experience and a wealth of knowledge of the diverse Sunshine Coast property sectors to Property & Estates Sunshine Coast, which he launched mid-last year, ” Mr Reed said.

“We are very pleased that he and his team have joined the Elevate on Buderim community in the second commercial space on the ground floor, alongside Honeysuckle Restaurant.”

Mr Williams has long been part of the Buderim community and is looking forward to welcoming clients to his impressive new office space.

“When the site was originally cleared, I knew the location would be perfect to set up our new office and the Elevate on Buderim building has certainly lived up to expectations,” Mr Williams said.

“Our team of eight looks forward to settling in over the coming weeks as we continue to help our clients navigate the property market. We’re delighted to return our base to Buderim where we already have great networks in the local community — although this hasn’t stopped us from marketing properties from King’s Beach to Maleny with great success.”

Mr Reed said the four apartment owners are set to move into Elevate in the next couple of weeks and he feels confident that, given the final look and feel of the apartments, there would be much interest in the final three homes.

“I couldn’t be happier with the end result and I am very confident the two remaining apartments and the expansive penthouse will be snapped up quickly now that the building has been completed,” Mr Reed said.

“We are thrilled with how spacious the apartments feel and Devcon has done an excellent job in delivering on the high-end finishes throughout.”

Elevate on Buderim offers two- and three-bedroom apartments with two bathrooms and the option of one or two secure garages.  The penthouses, which are up to 265m² including garages, offer the same high-end specifications throughout and include three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study, additional Miele appliances such as a built-in coffee machine and steam oven, high-raked ceilings and a feature island bench.

To find out more, please visit www.elevateonbuderim.com.au or contact Ray White Buderim’s Lew Pottinger on 0419 788 547 or Judy Wild 0419 798 905.

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