A MODEST beach shack is taking shape between lavish beachside mansions — and it could be the shape of things to come on the Gold Coast’s ‘millionaires row’.

Sydney investor Joseph James Pagliaro and his wife Michelle bought the beachfront property in Mermaid Beach in April 2007 for $6 million, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Mrs Pagliaro, who holidayed on the Coast as a child, said the one-storey house being built on the 405sqm block would be used as a holiday beachhouse for her family of seven.

“I used to come to the Gold Coast for holidays when I was a child,” she said.

“We wanted a beach-front home with easy beach access for our five children.”
Mrs Pagliaro said the house featured a bunk room for the kids, a guest room and master bedroom.

The kitchen and living area are at the front of the house overlooking the ocean.

The Pagliaro family scaled back plans for a three-storey home in favour of a more modest option.

“We initially designed a three-storey home, which would have comfortably housed three families,” she said.

“But when the GFC hit, we felt that it would be too excessive.

“We realised that everything we needed could be in a single-storey beach shack.

“It’s quite a compact house.

“We want a very casual interior.”

Mrs Pagliaro said she was looking forward to spending Christmas on the Coast with her family.

Construction on the house is expected to be completed by December 1.

“I can’t wait ’til Christmas,” she said.

“I’m really excited about holidaying up there.”

Ray White real estate agent Michael Kollosche said it wasn’t rare to see smaller dwellings being built instead of multi-million dollar mansions.

“We are seeing a few of these beach homes popping up along Hedges,” he said.

“It’s a possibility that people aren’t going for a massive structure because they’re using it as a holiday home.

“They don’t feel that they have to build something lavish.”