Skip to content
Burleigh Beach Designs — Gold Coast architectural practice
About · Burleigh Heads Studio

The Site Leads.
We Listen.

Gold Coast Architects · Established 2012

Every project starts on your land — reading the orientation, the breeze, the fall of light across the day. The design follows from there.

Brett McDonald reviewing architectural drawings on coastal building site - demonstrating site-responsive design approach
Approach

Designed Around
Where You Are.

We start with the site — its orientation, its neighbours, the way weather moves through it. The design responds to what's already there: the prevailing breeze, the angle of northern light, the contour of the land. On the coast, that means salt air, easterly weather, and a subtropical climate that rewards buildings designed to open up rather than seal shut. Every decision filters through how you want to live in that specific place.

Brett McDonald - Nominated Architect, Principal (NSW Reg. 9547)
Principal Architect

Brett McDonald

Nominated Architect · NSW Reg. 9547 · QLD Reg. 4924

Brett is a registered architect in both Queensland and New South Wales with a focus on residential design — from bespoke coastal homes to multi-residential projects across South East Queensland. His project experience ranges from luxury residences in Toorak and the Margaret River wine region to the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, and that range informs the way he approaches every project on the coast.

Practice Director

Simone McDonald

Principal · Practice Director

Simone runs project delivery — coordinating consultants, builders, and council so nothing slips between the gaps. Over a decade of managing builds from Northern NSW to Brisbane has given her an operational discipline that keeps projects moving and clients informed. Outside delivery, she has a genuine interest in architecture and interior design — and is the editorial voice behind the practice's published insights.

Simone McDonald - Principal and Practice Director
The Studio

21 Diana Avenue,
Burleigh Heads.

A few streets back from the beach that gave the practice its name. We've been here since 2012.

Visit

21 Diana Avenue
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220

View on Google Maps

Meet

By appointment at the studio, on site, or over Teams. We open the 3D model live, cut sections through the design, and work through decisions on the spot.

Hours

Monday – Friday
8:30 am – 5:00 pm

(07) 5520 1940
Process

How We Work

Five stages. One conversation that runs through all of them.

  1. Pre-Design & Feasibility

    Before any design work starts, we look at what's possible — planning overlays, site access, budget parameters, and whether the project stacks up.

  2. Concept & Design Development

    We develop options, test them in 3D, and refine through conversation with you — finding the design that works for how you want to live, on the land you own.

  3. Documentation & Approvals

    Construction-ready drawings detailed to reduce surprises on site. We coordinate consultants and manage the council approval process.

  4. Contract Administration & Construction

    We administer the building contract, inspect work at each stage, and act as your independent representative throughout construction.

  5. Project Delivery & Handover

    Final inspections, defects resolution, and a documented handover — the project isn't finished until you're settled in.

Start with a Site Visit

If you've got a site and an idea, that's enough to begin. We'll walk it with you and tell you what we see.

From the Studio Read Our Insights
Client Portal

Secure access to your project documents, approvals, and progress photos.