Gold Coast, Queensland

:"This article is about the Australian city, Gold Coast. For other uses, see Gold Coast."Infobox Australian Place | type = city
name = Gold Coast
state = qld

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caption = Due north, Surfers Paradise
pop = 527,660
pop_footnotes=Census 2006 AUS|id=3139|name=Gold Coast-Tweed (QLD) (Statistical District)|accessdate=2008-01-26|quick=on|
]
poprank = 6th
density = 334.52
est = 16 May 1959
area = 1402
timezone = GMT +10
utc = 10
timezone-dst = GMT +10
utc-dst = 10
lga = Gold Coast City Council
stategov = Albert, Broadwater, Burleigh, Currumbin, Gaven, Mudgeeraba, Robina, Southport, Surfers Paradise
fedgov = Fadden, Moncrieff, McPherson, Forde
dist1 = 78
location1 = Brisbane (approx)
mintemp = 15.3
maxtemp = 25.0
rainfall = 1428.6
near-nw = Beaudesert City Council
near-n = Logan City Council
near-ne = Pacific Ocean
near-w = Beaudesert City Council
near-e = Pacific Ocean
near-sw = Beaudesert City Council
near-s = Tweed Shire Council
near-se = Pacific Ocean
dist1 = 94 | dir1 = SSE | location1 = Brisbane
dist2 = 19 | dir2 = S | location2 = Surfers Paradise
dist3 = 13 | dir3 = WNW | location3 = CoolangattaThe Gold Coast is a city and local government area in the southeast corner of Queensland, Australia. It is the second most populous city in the state and the sixth most populous city in the country. Gold Coast City is renowned for its sunny subtropical climate, popular surfing beaches, expansive waterway and canal systems, a skyline dominated by high-rise apartment buildings, active nightlife and wide variety of tourist attractions.

History

Captain James Cook became the first European to note the region when he sailed along the coast on May 16, 1770 in the HM Bark Endeavour.

Captain Matthew Flinders, an explorer charting the continent north from the colony of New South Wales, sailed past in 1802. The region remained uninhabited by Europeans until 1823 when explorer John Oxley landed at Mermaid Beach, which was named after his boat, a cutter named "Mermaid".

The hinterland's red cedar supply attracted large numbers of people to the area in the mid 1800s. The western suburb of Nerang was surveyed and established as a base for the industry. Later in 1875, Southport was surveyed and established and quickly grew a reputation as a secluded holiday destination for the upper class Brisbane residents.

In 1925, tourism to the area grew rapidly when Jim Cavill established the Surfers Paradise Hotel, which transformed to Circle on Cavill neighbouring with Towers of Chevron Renaissance shopping mall and resort apartment complex. The population grew steadily to support the tourism industry and by the 1940s, real estate speculators and journalists were referring to the area as the "Gold Coast." The true origin of the name is still debatable. The name "Gold Coast" was officially proclaimed in 1958 when the South Coast Town Council was renamed "Gold Coast Town Council."

During the 1970s, real-estate developers gained a dominant role in local politics, and high-rises began to dominate the area now known as Surfers Paradise and later in 1981 the airport was established. In 1994 the Gold Coast City Council and the Shire of Albert amalgamated to create new city boundaries under the administration of the City of Gold Coast Council.

These three teams all have their first season in 2007 and are the first national teams in many years to be situated on the Gold Coast.

There are many recreational activities situated on the Gold Coast ranging from (famously) surfing to fishing and boating to golf. The Gold Coast has numerous golf links, including Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove and The Glades. There is a range of sporting facilities on the Gold Coast from the Carrara Stadium, Carrara Indoor Sport Centre, Nerang Velodrome and the Sports Super Centre. Some of these facilities are being superseded by newer and larger capacity facilities. Two examples of these are the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre to play host to a Gold Coast Basketball team and Skilled Park to host NRL games.

The Gold Coast has been accepted as one of two expansion tams in the A-League for he 2009/2010 season(The other team is based in Townsville, also in Queensland). The name of the franchise is to be Gold Coast united FC and will also play out of Skilled Park.

Former World Wrestling Entertainment Superstar Nathan Jones comes from the Gold Coast, as does Olympic gold medal winning swimmer Grant Hackett.

In 2008, the AFL announced that there will be a new AFL franchise based on the Gold Coast in 2011. However it faces a lack of state government and public support, as well as a stadium contract with the Gabba in Brisbane that threatens to lock the AFL out of the Gold Coast until 2015. The previous AFL team based on the Gold Coast failed and was relocated to Brisbane.

The city was formerly represented in the now defunct Australian Rugby Championship by the East Coast Aces, who played out of Carrara Stadium.

Events

The Gold Coast Indy 300 (formerly known as Lexmark Indy 300) is a car racing event held annually, usually in October. The course ventures through the streets of Surfers Paradise and Main Beach. The Indy 300 comprises many other events such as the Indy Undie Ball and the Miss Indy Competition. The V8 Supercars event also coincides with the Indy 300, using the same track route.

The Magic Millions carnival is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Gerry Harvey (of Harvey Normans) and John Singleton. There are plans to relocate and build a state of the art new racetrack at Palm Meadows which will incoporate the Magic Million sale with facilities for up to 4000 horses. Fact|date=January 2008

Each June, Coolangatta hosts the Wintersun Festival, a two-week 1950s and 1960s nostalgia festival with free entertainment and attractions, including hot rods, restored cars and revival bands playing music of the era.

Each July, more than 16,000 congregate on the Gold Coast from around the world to participate in the Gold Coast Marathon. It is also the largest annual community sporting event held on the Gold Coast.

Late November to early December sees thousands of school leavers across the country descend on the Gold Coast for Schoolies, a two week period of celebration and parties throughout Sufers Paradise, hosted by the Gold Coast City Council . The event is often criticised nationally and locally for its portrayal of drinking and acts of violence, however every effort by the Queensland Police and State Government to ensure all school leavers have a good time are put into place, including locals volunteering by walking the streets and keeping an eye out for those in need of assistance on where to go, what to do and how to have a good time.

Early each year the Gold Coast hosts one leg of the ASP World Tour of surfing, where some of the worlds best surfers compete in the Quiksilver Pro at Coolangatta.

The Gold Coast Arts Centre located in Evandale, features a fine art gallery featuring local and international works from painting to sculpture and new media. In addition, there is a theatre for live productions including musicals as well 2 arts cinemas showing foreign and independent films from Australia and abroad.

Media

The daily, local newspaper is "The Gold Coast Bulletin" which is published by News Corporation. The "Gold Coast Sun" and "Gold Coast Mail" are other local newspapers.

Gold Coast is unique in that it is officially in the television broadcast licence areas of both Brisbane (metro) and Northern New South Wales (regional). The Brisbane networks are Seven, Nine and Ten. The regional affiliates are Prime Television, NBN Television and Southern Cross Ten. Also broadcasting to the area are the ABC and SBS television services. Subscription television services Foxtel (via cable) and Austar (via satellite) are also available.

Major FM radio stations include [http://www.1073.com.au/ 107.3 FM] (Christian Rock), 88 BeachFM (tourist info., Top 40), 89.3 4CRB-FM (Christian), 90.9 SEAFM (Top 40, pop), 91.7 ABC Coast FM (contemporary, ABC local news and information), 92.5 Gold 92.5 (mix of 70s, 80s, 90s, and Top 40), 93.5 SBS (Brisbane), [http://www.941fm.com.au/ 94.1 Jazz Radio] (jazz, blues and swing music), 97.7 JJJ Triple J (alternative and chart music), 102.9 Hot Tomato (Top 40, pop), 104 4MBS Classic, [http://www.radiometro.com.au 105.7 Radio Metro] (dance, pop, R&B, and left field), 106 ABC Classic FM, and [http://www.1073.com.au/ 107.3 LifeFM (Christian)] . Several Brisbane AM and FM radio stations can also be received in various areas.

National surfing magazine Australia's Surfing Life is published in the Gold Coast suburb of Burleigh Heads, by Morrison Media.

Tourism and landmarks

Tourism is Gold Coast City's main industry, generating total revenue of $2.5 billion per annum. Fact|date=June 2008 Gold Coast is the most popular Queensland tourism location. [ [http://www.sdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_cntnhtml.cfm?id=17935 Key Gold Coast Industries Report] ] with over 13,000 available guest rooms contributing over $335 million to the local economy each year. Accommodation options available range from backpacker hostels to five star resorts and hotels. The most common style of accommodation is three and four star self-contained apartments. Fact|date=June 2008

Major tourist attractions include internationally renowned surf beaches, and theme parks including, Dreamworld, Sea World, Wet'n'Wild Water World, Warner Bros. Movie World, WhiteWater World, Currumbin Sanctuary, Fleays Wildlife Park, Australian Outback Spectacular and Paradise Country.

Q1

Since the opening of the worlds highest residential tower in 2005, the Q1 building has been a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. It is the second highest public vantage point in the southern hemisphere after the Eureka Tower in Melbourne. The observation deck at level 77 is the highest of its kind in Queensland and offers expansive views in all directions, from Brisbane to Byron Bay. It towers over the Surfers Paradise skyline, with the observation deck 230 metres high, and the spire extending nearly another hundred metres up. In total, the Q1 is 322.5 metres high.

Meter maids

Bikini-clad meter maids were introduced in Surfers Paradise in 1965 in an attempt to put a positive spin on new parking regulations. To avoid tickets being issued for expired parking, the Meter Maids dispense coins into the meter and leave a calling card under the windscreen wiper of the vehicle. The Maids are still a popular part of the Surfers Paradise culture but the scheme is now run by private enterprise.

Education

The Gold Coast's education infrastructure includes:
*Universities - Two major university campuses (Bond University at Robina and Griffith University, incorporating the Griffith Schools of Medicine and Dentistry and Oral Health at the Gold Coast Hospital and the main campus at Southport) and the smaller campus of Central Queensland University at Southport
*TAFE - four campuses at Southport, Ridgeway (Ashmore), Benowa and Coolangatta
*Schools - Over 100 primary and secondary schools, both public and private and of a variety of denominations.

Infrastructure

Health

The Gold Coast Hospital at Southport is the city’s major teaching and referral hospital and the third largest in Queensland, attending to over 58,000 cases a year [ [http://www.health.qld.gov.au/wwwprofiles/gcoast_gcoast_hosp.asp Gold Coast Hospital Profile ] ] , and overseeing other services of the "Gold Coast Health Service District" as its head office. There is a second public hospital situated in Robina but this second campus is smaller and mainly comprises rehabilitation, psychiatric and palliative wards along with a recently opened Emergency Department.

A number of private hospitals also exist throughout the city, notably Allamanda Private Hospital located at Southport, Pindara Hospital at Benowa and John Flynn Gold Coast Private Hospital at Tugun in the city's south.

Transport

The Gold Coast has a wide range of public transport modes including buses, rail and monorail. The car is the dominant mode of transport for Gold Coast but with the increasing population that leads to more traffic congestion. Fact|date=July 2007 This has led to the Queensland State Government and Gold Coast City council placing more effort into providing public transport including a new Ferry service and the proposed Rapid Transit System. [ [http://www.transinfo.qld.gov.au/qt/translin.nsf/index/gc_rapidtransit Gold Coast Rapid Transit ] ] The Gold Coast's main provider of public bus services is Surfside Buslines. [ [http://www.surfside.com.au/surfside_busserv.htm Surfside Bus Services ] ]

Gold Coast Airport is located at Coolangatta, approximately 22 kilometres south of Surfers Paradise. Services are provided to interstate capitals and major cities as well as to major New Zealand cities, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia and Japan.

Utilities

Electricity

Electricity for the Gold Coast is sourced from Powerlink Queensland at bulk supply substations which is provided via the National Electricity Market from an interconnected multi-State power system. The Government-owned electricity corporation Energex distributes and retails electricity, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and value-added products and services to residential, industrial and commercial customers in South-East Queensland.

Water supply

The Hinze Dam 15 km southwest of Nerang is the population's main water supply. The Little Nerang Dam which feeds into Hinze Dam can supplement part of the city area's water needs, and both are managed by the city council directorate Gold Coast Water. Reforms of the way in which the water industry is structured have been announced by the State Government, with transfer of ownership and management of water services from local government to the state occurring in 2008-09. Gold Coast City Council also sources water from Wivenhoe Dam, west of Brisbane for northern suburbs when the Hinze Dam, at one-tenth of Wivenhoe's capacity, becomes low. Water shortage and water restrictions have been current local issues, and a few new Gold Coast residential areas have recently included dual reticulation in their planning and development to supply water from a new water recycling plant being built concurrently. This will make available highly treated recycled water for use around the home in addition to potable water. The Gold Coast has received world recognition for this scheme in its Pimpama-Coomera suburbs. [ [http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_gcw.asp?PID=5909 Gold Coast City Council - Pimpama Coomera Master Plan Frequently Asked Questions ] ] Gold Coast Water has also been recognised for its world leading HACCP water quality management system by the World Health Organisation which published Gold Coast Water's system as a good model for managing water quality and safety from catchment to tap. [ [http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/wsp0506/en/ WHO | Water safety plans: Managing drinking-water quality from catchment to consumer ] ] A desalination plant is currently under construction at Tugun to supplement Southeast Queensland via a water grid.

Future projects

Water
*A desalination plant is currently being built in Tugun.
*Raising Hinze Dam
*SEQ Water pipeline Fact|date=July 2007The Gold Coast has been also debating a controversial cruise ship terminal.

Transport

Public Transport

* Gold Coast Rapid Transit System a light rail or bus rapid transport system running mainly along Smith Street and Gold Coast highway from Southport down to Coolangatta is expected to start construction in 2008.

* The existing heavy rail Gold Coast line will be progressively extended to Coolangatta.

ister cities

:"According to the [http://goldcoastcity.com.au/t_standard2.aspx?pid=256 Gold Coast City Council Website] "

Gallery

References

*cite web | title=Gold Coast City Council | work=Boating section | url=http://www.goldcoastcity.com.au/t_std.asp?pid=322 | accessmonthday=March 30 | accessyear=2005
*cite web | title=Australian Sisters City Association | work=Register of Sister Cities Affiliations (register_of_affiliations.doc) | url=http://www.asca.asn.au/documents.html | accessmonthday=March 30 | accessyear=2005
*cite web | title=Tourism Queensland Local Government Area Profile | work=The Gold Coast Region (EA48E99BD71C5B381C3B294DB531EAD5.pdf) | url=http://www.tq.com.au/tq_com/dms/EA48E99BD71C5B381C3B294DB531EAD5.pdf | accessmonthday=December 20 | accessyear=2005
*cite web | title=Gold Coast City Council | work=History and Heritage Section | url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard.aspx?PID=961 | accessmonthday=January 3 | accessyear=2006
*cite web | title=Gold Coast City Council Library Services | work=Local Studies Library | url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/library/library_branches/branch.asp?Branch=local_studies | accessmonthday=January 3 | accessyear=2006
*cite web | title=The State of Queensland (Department of State Development, Trade and Innovation)| work=State Development Centre, Gold Coast| url=http://www.sdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_cntnhtml.cfm?id=17918 | accessmonthday=August 13 | accessyear=2006
*cite web | title=Gold Coast City Council | work=History| url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard.aspx?pid=1442 | accessmonthday=November 22 | accessyear=2006

External links

*wikitravel|Gold Coast
* [http://www.goldcoastcity.com.au Gold Coast City Council]
* [http://www.verygc.com Gold Coast tourism resource - Very GC]
* [http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/destinations/gold-coast/index.cfm Official State Tourism site - Gold Coast visitor resource]
* [http://www.translink.com.au TransLink - Public Transport - Bus Train Ferry]
* [http://www.coastalwatch.com Coastal Watch] webcams
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=gold+coast+australia&t=k&ll=-27.998039,153.255157&spn=0.439556,0.860367&t=k Aerial view of the Gold Coast at Google Local showing waterways and mountains]
* [http://www.goldcoastsport.com.au Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ViewData?subaction=-1&producttype=QuickStats&areacode=307&action=401&documenttype=MainFeatures&collection=Census&textversion=false&breadcrumb=LPD&period=2006&javascript=true&navmapdisplayed=true& 2006 Census QuickStats: Gold Coast]