The Tourism Era & Future Transformation: the history of the Gold Coast, Part 3

After the struggle of the 80s and 90s, Gold Coast developers wasted no time taking advantage of the prosperous 00s. With sophisticated nightclubs and no-height-limit developments taking shape, the 2000s completely transformed our beloved Gold Coast. The 2010s race for entertainment and shopping venues kept our holiday destination status thriving, which has enticed many to call the Gold Coast their home.

The future of the Gold Coast is an exciting one, with many revolutionary developments in the works and on the plans. The future of our city will be a time unlike any other and one that will make our history as a small little beach town difficult to recall out of the soaring skyscrapers and innovative city infrastructure.

 

Gold Coast History: 2000s-Now, and Looking Forward

Aerial view over central Southport CBD and Broadwater Parklands, Southport, Queensland, 2013 / Daryl Jones, Photographer

Following the recession of the 1990s, the early 2000s brought a steady economic recovery to the region. This was also the era when tourism was embraced and attracted high-value investment from government and private enterprise. The establishment of a varied and sophisticated nightlife with nightclubs, such as Vanity, Swingin’ Safari, The Ruby Tramp and many more, cemented the Surfers Paradise ‘Glitter Strip’ amongst the nation’s top attractions.

The 2000s was an era that achieved unprecedented heights, pun intended. During this time, the Gold Coast skyline welcomed many major developments reaching incredible heights, including: Q1, Soul, The Oracle twin towers and more. It was a development boom unlike any other, with many investors and project developers achieving residential tower heights never before seen in South East Queensland.

Alongside major residential high-rise developments, the 2010s welcomed many new entertainment venues and shopping precincts. It was a sign that the Gold Coast had evolved into a sophisticated, prosperous and highly attractive city where more and more people are choosing to reside and invest.

The future of the Gold Coast is projected to be a prosperous one, with multiple multi-billion and multi-million development projects in the works. It is an exciting time to be on the GC. Dedicated to ongoing economic growth, the Gold Coast can expect to see tourism, residential and entertainment projects that will transform its beautiful skyline.

From new parks and environmental projects to billion-dollar residential towers and more, this is definitely the place to be. To learn more about the future of the Gold Coast, make sure to visit the Gold Coast City Council’s official page dedicated to future advancements and development projects.

Future Gold Coast

2000s-Now and Future Impacting Moments on the Gold Coast:

  • 2000s – Nightlife resurges within Surfers Paradise with the launch of new first-class venues, including: Swingin’ Safari, The Ruby Tramp and more.
  • 2005 – Q1 completes construction. Recorded as the tallest building in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere at the time, it was a building that transformed the Gold Coast skyline.
  • 2006 – Conrad Jupiters Casino undergoes $53 Million on refurbishments, expanding their gaming room to twice its size and introducing new attractions, including: Gold Club room, new restaurants, balconies and two new bars.
  • 2008 – Conrad Jupiters Casino spent $16 million refurbishing 442 of their hotel rooms and the hotel’s front office and lobby.
  • 2010 – The $850 million, two-tower luxury apartment developed by Nikiforides Group, The Oracle in Broadbeach, opens.
  • 2010 – The Conrad Jupiters Casino rebrands itself as Jupiters Hotel & Casino.
  • 2012 – The 243m tall Surfers Paradise residential tower, Soul, completes construction. It continues to be the second tallest building on the Gold Coast.
  • 2012 – The Broadbeach Soccer Oval is renamed Nikiforides Family Park by the Gold Coast City Council, in recognition of the family’s long contributions to the city over the years.
  • 2015 – Jupiters Hotel & Casino is rebranded as The Star Gold Coast. Construction begins on the Star Gold Coast’s $345 million redevelopment project. This included the new 19-storey tower, called The Darling.
  • 2017 – The Park, a 59-storey unit development in Mermaid Beach, is completed. Developed by the Nikoforides brothers under their new development company, Nu-Dev.
  • Future – Being called The Star Residences, Broadbeach Island is set to receive a new 53-storey tower development. It is reported to be an incorporation of residential, hotel and retail offerings.
  • Future – It is forecasted that by 2050 the Gold Coast will home to over one million people.
  • Future – $1.2 billion Spirit Tower is being planned for Surfers Paradise. Set to stand 89-storeys, which would make it the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest tower.
  • Future – The controversial Gold Coast cruise ship terminal is still in planning with many trying to secure approval.
  • Future – The five-tower, $3 billion ASF Integrated Resort project will go before the State Government for approval.
  • Future – The $1 billion, 3-tower development, the Jewel in Surfers Paradise, is currently underway and is set for completion in 2019.

Images: Copyright held by Gold Coast City Council.

Stroll back through time and discover the history of the Gold Coast in our 3 part series: 1960s-1980s, 1980s-2000s and (above) the 2000s-Now and glance at the Future.

The Fight for Growth: the history of the Gold Coast, Part 2

From ‘The Rise of Paradise’, came the downturn of the 80s. With financial hardship taking its toll, the rapid growth of the Gold Coast came to a halt. This fight for growth continued into the 90s, where a few Gold Coast developers managed to succeed in creating some of the iconic buildings of today. But, it wasn’t until the lead up to the 2000s that the Gold Coast rehabilitated its rapid growth and managed to strongly reaffirm itself as Australia’s number one nightlife party town.

Gold Coast History: 1980s-2000s

Aerial view of the Gold Coast City Council Administration Centre and the Gold Coast Arts Centre, 135 Bundall Road, Evandale, Surfers Paradise, Queensland, looking east towards Surfers Paradise, circa 1990s.

The growth of high-rises and the significant infrastructure boom of the 1960s continued on the Gold Coast up until the late 1980s. 

The recession of the early 1990s brought an economic downturn TO ALL Australian cities and the property industry on the Gold Coast was hard hit. With development now at a standstill, it was the first time since the early 60s that the Gold Coast wasn’t experiencing rapid growth. 

There were a few exceptions to the development decline of this era, which also saw the completion of major landmark projects including: Grundy’s, Surfers Paradise Marriot Resort & Spa, Robina Town Centre, and Conrad Jupiter’s Casino. All of these popular and highly successful developments opened their doors between the 80s and 90s. Despite the struggling recession of the early 90s, Pacific Fair proved to also be one of these exceptions.

Retail shops in Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland, 1980s / J. Pritchard, photographer.

Though Pacific Fair was first built in the early 1970s, it only became known as the ‘Pink Palace’ following its 1987 $200 million renovation, which included the famous pink paint job and a 87,500 square metre expansion. Leaping ahead of the waning Southport Sundale shopping centre, by 1987 more than 13 million people were visiting Pacific Fair each year with recorded retail sales in excess of $180 million.

This slow growth of new development had some upsides, one of which was the implementation of many city beautification projects. Notably among these was the suburb of Ashmore, which was the first suburb on the Gold Coast to have roadside bike paths and a roundabout.

Leading up to the 2000s, the Gold Coast began to strongly reaffirm itself as a nightlife party town, with many new nightclubs and late night venues beginning to be constructed. Surfers Paradise’s ‘glitter strip’ continued to light up the city each night with holiday visitors from all over Australia and the world coming in droves to experience the fun.

Gold Coast Circa 1980 Part 1

 

1980s-2000s impacting moments on the Gold Coast:

  • 1980 – Surf Life Savings Club welcomes females as active members.
  • 1980 – The southernmost tip of Stradbroke Island was reclaimed to form the north side of the Gold Coast Seaway.
  • 1980 – Influx of Japanese investment in Surfers Paradise.
  • 1981 – Gold Coast Airport terminal at Coolangatta opens.
  • 1981 – Grundy’s, the family fun centre, opens its doors with four beachfront waterslides. Today, its location is the home of Surfers Paradise Centro.
  • 1981 – Dreamworld theme park opens its doors.
  • 1981 – The first stage of housing blocks entered the market for the master planned community of Robina.
  • 1982 – Robina’s first series of artificial freshwater lakes – called Lake Hugh Muntz, covering 17-hectares – was completed.
  • 1985 – The Conrad Jupiter’s Casino opens.
  • 1986 – Funded by the Gold Coast City Council, The Gold Coast City Art Gallery opens as part of the Gold Coast Arts Centre.
  • 1987 – Pacific Fair undergoes a $200 million renovation, transforming it into the famous ‘pink palace’, what it would become known as around the world.
  • 1989 – Established a year prior, Bond University in Robina opens for enrolment with an intake of 322 students.
  • Late 1980s – Niecon Plaza in Broadbeach – a shopping centre and unit complex developed by the Nikiforides Group – opened its doors.
  • Early 1990s – Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa is built, sparking a new era of international hotels on the Gold Coast.
  • 1991 – The Inaugural Gold Coast Indy 300 arrives in Surfers Paradise.
  • 1991 – Movie World amusement park opens its doors.
  • 1994 – Gold Coast City and part of Albert Shire merge to become a new local authority called the Gold Coast City Council (GCCC).
  • 1996 – Robina Town Centre opens, making a community of services in the area – such as: schools, hospitals, rail link, police and fire stations – a reality.

Images: Copyright held by Gold Coast City Council.

The Rise of Paradise: the history of the Gold Coast, Part 1

Let us take you on a unique journey.

First, we’ll ‘time-warp’ back to the 60s, where the smooth waves and pristine beaches of the Gold Coast sparked a rise of a destination like no other – ‘beautiful one day, perfect the next’. It would soon be in high demand from holiday makers, motel and hotel operators, and those looking for a sea-change. We’ll then guide you through the 70s, where innovative developments began and some of our most iconic buildings were founded. Through to the start of the 80s, where the fight for height begins and the birth of some of our now many tourist attractions became the foundation for our reputation as a top holiday destination.

Esplanade near Cavill Avenue and Surfers Paradise Beach, Queensland, 1965

The vibrant decade of the 1960s is considered to be the beginning of the development boom in high-rise holiday apartments and hotels. This era saw the growth of new infrastructure, such as canal estates and land subdivisions. The local building industry set about many new projects and a robust pattern of growth began to take place across the region.

During the 1960s, Surfers Paradise established itself as a top holiday destination. Completed in 1959, the Kinkabool was Surfers Paradise’s first high-rise and is considered to be the inspirational start of this era’s booming infrastructure. The Kinkabool still stands today on Hanlan Street, and in 2009 was added to the Queensland State Heritage Register.

Iluka apartment building between Hanlan and Trickett Streets, Surfers Paradise, Queensland, circa 1970s

Throughout the 1970s, with the continued rise in holiday accommodation and innovative developments, the Gold Coast soon became a must-visit holiday destination. Several iconic buildings were constructed during this time, including: Iluka, St Tropez and The Pink Poodle. The Iluka and St Tropez are considered Gold Coast icons and were significant landmarks, being the very first buildings to reach 20-storeys.

The growth and popularity of surfing went hand-in-hand with the growth of development on the Gold Coast. All along the coastline – from Southport to Coolangatta – holiday houses, motels and guesthouses were built to accommodate the growing number of travellers wanting to enjoy the waves and sandy beaches. In 1977, the city played host to the Stubbies Surf Classic at Burleigh Heads. It was the first event of the modern surfing tour (won by famous Australian surfer, Michael Peterson), and marked the beginning of many future surfing tours along Gold Coast’s coastline.

Seaquarium on The Spit, Main Beach, Queensland, 1967 

By the start of the 1980s, almost all of the vacant land within 10km of the coast had been developed. Cementing the Gold Coast’s reputation as an international tourist centre was the construction of modern theme parks, including Dreamworld and Sea World. The influx of Japanese property investment during this time made the city skyline soar, but it was the construction of the Gold Coast Airport terminal in Coolangatta during the late 1970s (officially opened 1981) that solidified the city as a national and international travellers’ top holiday destination.

Surfers Paradise 1960 Video

 

1960s-1980s impacting moments on the Gold Coast:

  • 1959 – The Gold Coast was officially declared a city by the Gold Coast Town Council, who thusly changed their name to the Gold Coast City Council.
  • 1960 – Construction began on a bridge at Lands End in Labrador, now known as the Biggera Creek Bridge. This bridge opened up potential development to the Gold Coast’s Northern Estate.
  • 1960 – Construction of the 100-hectare Florida Gardens Estate project in Broadbeach began. This created 1000 allotments and involved the construction of the 30-metre canal linking Little Tallebudgera Creek with the Nerang River, giving rise to continued estate construction all along the canal.
  • 1962 – The Nobby’s Beach chairlift was built, which later became a part of the Magic Mountain entertainment park.
  • 1963 – Miami High opened, marking the first high school to be built between Southport and the border, a symbol of the population growth of this time.
  • 1964 – Arthur Earle purchased roughly 3000 acres of land between Nerang and Mudgeeraba, on which he bulldozed a straight track through the middle. Earle’s ‘track’ is still a part of today’s Gold Coast Highway.
  • 1965 – The founding year of the iconic bikini clad Meter Maids, who continue to help prevent Surfers Paradise travellers from receiving parking fines.
  • 1965 – The Gold Coast’s first ever major marine park opened, called Seaquarium. Its name soon changed to Marineland. Marineland is considered the birth of theme parks on the Gold Coast.
  • 1967 – Lae Enterprises, formed by developer Neil McCowan, purchased 182 hectares of tidal wetland adjacent to the Southport Broadwater. McCowan and his advertising agent, John Garnsey, are credited with the naming of Runaway Bay.
  • 1968 – Opening of Queensland’s largest shopping centre, Southport’s Sundale.
  • 1970 – The canal development known as Paradise Point Keys – located west of the Broadwater – was advertised for sale. With prices starting at $6950, the first stage of 135 waterfront lots sold out within a year.
  • 1971 – A new and improved water ski lake called Ski Gardens opened on The Spit.
  • 1972 – Ski Gardens was renovated and changed its name to Sea World. This same year, Sea World introduced dolphins, a huge public swimming pool and other popular exhibits.
  • 1973 – saw Warren Young promoted to Chief Lifeguard (the beginning of his still ongoing 41-year career as a lifeguard).
  • 1974 – The Coolangatta suburbs namesake – the schooner Coolangatta (wrecked in 1946) – was uncovered.
  • 1976 – Marineland was purchased by Sea World for $1.2 million. This began the introduction of major rides at Sea World as well as the start of construction on Australia’s first monorail train system.
  • 1976 – Helensvale’s first homes were constructed as part of the areas original sugar plantation.
  • 1976 – Queensland received its first ever Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter, donated by Westpac.
  • 1978 – Nikiforides Group relocated to South East Queensland, marking the beginning of many major Gold Coast developments by the family-owned company.

Images: Copyright held by Gold Coast City Council.