Aura Hotel
An artist’s impression of Aura Hotel near Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. Image: Supplied.
Construction is now underway on the $68 million Aura Hotel at Stockland Aura near Caloundra, with the 2,500-capacity live music and hospitality venue expected to open in late 2027.
Aura Hotel is a major hospitality and entertainment project planned for the Aura City Centre precinct on the Sunshine Coast. The Comiskey Group is delivering the project in partnership with Stockland, within the master-planned Aura community about 10 minutes from Caloundra.
The project includes a major live music room, multiple bars, dining areas and function spaces. Construction moved into a new stage in April 2026 after early earthworks.
Quick facts
- What is it? A major hospitality and live music venue planned for Aura City Centre.
- Where is it? Stockland Aura, near Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast.
- Who is behind it? The Comiskey Group, in partnership with Stockland.
- How much is it worth? $68 million.
- How big is the music room? Up to 2,500 people.
- What will be inside? Six bars, indoor and alfresco dining, a gaming room and multiple function spaces across three levels.
- When is it due to open? Late 2027.
- How many jobs? About 150 local jobs.
What is Aura Hotel?
Despite the name, Aura Hotel is planned as more than a standard pub or hotel. It is being developed as a large-format entertainment and hospitality venue within the growing Aura City Centre.
The development is expected to span three levels and include a large band room, several bars, dining spaces, a gaming room and function areas for everything from casual visits to major events.
Where will it be?
The venue will sit within Stockland Aura, south of Caloundra. It is intended to help anchor the City Centre precinct. Current reporting says it will back onto future parklands that have been compared with South Bank-style public space.
More broadly, the project forms part of the City Centre buildout, alongside new town centre works and future public spaces.
How big will it be?
The project is now valued at $68 million. That is a notable change from earlier reporting on YELO’s 2024 story, which referred to a $45 million venue expected to be completed by 2026.
One of the key figures is the proposed band room capacity, with the live music space expected to hold up to 2,500 people. The wider venue is also set to include six bars, indoor and alfresco dining, a gaming room and multiple function spaces.
When is it expected to open?
Aura Hotel is currently expected to open in late 2027.
However, the latest construction update points to a later delivery window than earlier public reporting.
What could Aura Hotel add to Sunshine Coast live music?
What distinguishes Aura Hotel from a standard hospitality project is the scale of its planned live music offering.
The Sunshine Coast has smaller live rooms, pubs and community venues, but fewer large indoor spaces capable of hosting bigger touring acts. If delivered as planned, Aura Hotel could help fill part of the gap left by recent venue losses and ongoing pressure on the local scene.
That would not make Aura Hotel a direct replacement for venues such as The Station, Solbar or Terella, each of which played a different role in the region’s music ecosystem. But if live music becomes a serious part of the venue’s long-term programming, it could create new opportunities for touring, local support slots, venue staff, production crews and promoters.
Who is behind the project?
The Comiskey Group is developing Aura Hotel in partnership with Stockland. The group’s portfolio includes large-format southeast Queensland venues such as Eatons Hill Hotel and Sandstone Point Hotel, which helps explain the scale of the Aura project.
Aura Hotel timeline
- November 2024: YELO reports that the site has settled and works are expected to begin on a $45 million hotel and music venue.
- April 2026: The Comiskey Group and Stockland officially break ground, saying the project has moved into full construction after early earthworks.
- Late 2027: Current expected opening window for Aura Hotel.
What happens next?
For now, the main shift is that Aura Hotel has moved from proposal stage into construction.
The next milestones will be visible construction progress, more detailed venue information and, eventually, a firmer opening timeline.
YELO will update this page as more details are confirmed.
Earlier coverage: Works to start on Aura Hotel after settlement
