The heritage-listed Kirra Pavilion that is positioned on one of the Gold Coast’s most spectacular pieces of real estate will open in January as Siblings restaurant.

The long-awaited project by the Gold Coast Cianci restaurateur family, Siblings will be the latest incarnation for the location that is at the core of the revitalisation of the southern Gold Coast.

The old Kirra Pavilion nudges the sands of the beach famous for its world-class surf breaks and once renowned for its legendary long barrels. It was built in 1922, replacing a ramshackle surfside structure that didn’t even have a roof.

A shot from 1944.

However, the building was devastated by the 1974 floods that saw the beachside face of the pavilion largely destroyed.

Pizza Hut moved into the repaired complex in 1986. One of the few remaining dine-in Pizza Hut restaurants that offered the chain’s all-you-can-eat buffet, the Kirra Pizza Hut closed in 2019 so major renovations could commence on the structure, with locals lined up around the block on its last day to get a farewell slice of pizza from the celebrated location.

Siblings operator Peter Cianci said the new restaurant would pay respect to the location and return the building with its uninterrupted ocean views to its glory.

The building itself has been fitted out to capture the location’s unique surf history.

“If you think 1950s Miami Beach, lots of texture, lots of soft colours like lime green, peach and soft oranges. There’s lots of natural Australian timber and rattan, really interesting textures,” he said.

Cianci said a documentary of the transformation would be released to coincide with the opening, capturing the history and modern evolution of the site and local surf culture.

“We wanted to create something extremely unique for the southern end of the coast utilising the existing heritage building and really complementing it,” Cianci said.

“It’s an iconic building. We’re super excited and super happy to look after the community.”

Cianci said Siblings, named as it will be a family affair run by Peter and wife Tracey’s children, TJ and Hannah Cianci, Jarrod Kyle and daughter-in-law Bonnie Kyle, would remain “a very local, community-based place”.

The family, who are based at Bilinga on the southern reach of the Golf Coast, was formerly behind Gold Coast restaurants Edgewater and The Fish Emporium at the Isle of Capri.

“The southern end of the coast is changing dramatically, and we wanted to offer something for where it’s heading,” he said.

“We’re trying to do it as delicately and as mindfully as we can. We’ve had around 1500 enquiries already.”

Siblings will provide seating capacity for around 200 diners. It will include an enclosed private dining room with capacity for around 30 people.

It will feature an outside deck area and offer options from a distinct brunch menu to deli-style share plates and modern Mediterranean-inspired lunch and dinner menu.

Cianci said Siblings aimed to cater for people who wanted to come off the beach for classic fish and chips through to special occasion dining complemented by local craft beer and an extensive “liquid journey” cocktail list.

“You will have your classics but done in a different way.  We’re really trying to raise the bar, there’s nothing like it around to be honest. It’s really exciting,” he said.