Johan Meyer

Johan Meyer was a German immigrant and pioneer of the Gold Coast region. He acquired James Beattie's land at Narrow Neck, on the Gold Coast in 1877, initially developing a sugar plantation and mill. Seeing the opportunity for business success in catering to the accommodation needs of the regular visitors to the beaches of the Gold Coast, he then started the private ferry service, referred to as the Meyer's Ferry, and the Main Beach Hotel. In 1888, Meyer's family operated a coach service from Southport three times a week, that crossed the river at the ferry, taking passengers down to the main surf beach. His Main Beach Hotel became a postal receiving office in 1889 which was officially called Elston. During the 1890s, Johan Meyer's business went into decline and he faced financial ruin. After his death in 1901, these services lapsed and the area began to decline until the arrival of James Cavill in 1925.