Gold Coast, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gold Coast Queensland
The Q1 building and the Gold Coast skyline Broadbeach area Isle of Capri Gold Coast light rail Chevron Renaissance Home of the Arts Roxy Theatre at Warner Bros. Movie World
Gold Coast Location in Queensland
Population	681,389 (2024) (6th) 750,997 (Metro) (2024)
• Density	972/km2 (2,520/sq mi)
Established	1865 (1865)
Area	414.3 km2 (160.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	71.4 km (44 mi) SSE of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s)	Bonney Broadwater Burleigh Coomera Currumbin Gaven Mermaid Beach Mudgeeraba Southport Surfers Paradise Theodore
Federal Division(s)	Fadden Forde McPherson Moncrieff Wright
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 25.4 °C 78 °F 17.3 °C 63 °F 1,252.9 mm 49.3 in

The Gold Coast, or GC, is a lively city on the coast of Queensland, Australia. It's about 66 kilometers (41 miles) south of Brisbane, the state capital. This city sits right on Australia's central eastern coast, looking out at the Pacific Ocean. It is Queensland's second-largest city and Australia's sixth-largest. The main city area is in Southport. The Gold Coast stretches for about 60-70 kilometers (37-43 miles) along the coast. It connects with Brisbane to the north and the state of New South Wales to the south. People sometimes call it the 'Goldy' or the 'Glitter Strip'. People who live here are called Gold Coasters.

The Yugambeh people were the first inhabitants of this land. The Gold Coast started as small towns, with Nerang being one of the first in 1865. Tourism helped the area grow a lot from the 1920s. In 1959, it officially became a city. The first tall building was built in 1960. From the 1980s, many skyscrapers were built. The city became famous for its bright lights and new buildings. Later, theme parks opened, making it an even more popular place to visit. In the early 2000s, it also became a big spot for making movies.

The Gold Coast has many different industries. These include health, tourism, arts, culture, and building. It's a creative place, known for content creators and a growing video game industry. It also has many new startup businesses. The city is a big part of Australia's entertainment world. Many films and TV shows are made here, earning it the nickname 'Goldywood'. It also hosts important film awards and festivals.

The Gold Coast is a very popular place for tourists. It has a sunny, warm climate. It's famous for its surfing beaches, like Surfers Paradise. You'll also find tall buildings, fun theme parks, and beautiful rainforests in the nearby hinterland.

History of the Gold Coast

The Yugambeh people were the first to live in the Gold Coast area. European explorers arrived in 1823. People were drawn to the area in the 1800s for its timber.

Small towns grew along the coast and inland. Nerang became a base for timber work by 1870. Burleigh Heads also grew with land sales by 1873. In 1875, a settlement called Nerang Heads was renamed Southport. Southport became a quiet holiday spot for people from Brisbane.

After World War One, many simple 'seaside shacks' appeared. These were cheap holiday homes built from recycled materials. People used old timber, metal, and even old trams to make them. They offered an easy way for families to enjoy a coastal getaway.

The Surfers Paradise Hotel opened in the late 1920s, helping the area grow. It was first called the South Coast. But because things became expensive, people started calling it the 'Gold Coast' in 1950. At first, some locals didn't like the name. But soon, it became the common name for the holiday area. In 1949, several towns joined to form the Town of South Coast. As tourism grew, businesses used 'Gold Coast' in their names. In 1958, the town was officially renamed the Town of Gold Coast. It became a city on May 16, 1959.

The Gold Coast became a top tourist spot in the 1980s. In 1994, the city's local government area grew bigger. By 2007, it was Australia's sixth-largest city. The Gold Coast hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Gold Coast Population and People

In 2016, the Gold Coast urban area had over 540,000 people. The total population, including rural areas, was almost 570,000. The average age was 39 years old.

Most people (64%) were born in Australia. Other residents came from New Zealand, England, China, South Africa, and Japan. About 1.7% of the population were Indigenous Australians. Besides English, Mandarin and Japanese were common languages. In 2021, many people reported having no religious affiliation. Other common religions included Catholic and Anglican.

Geography of the Gold Coast

About half of the Gold Coast is covered by forests. These include old rainforests, mangrove islands, and eucalyptus forests. Before Europeans settled here, most of the area was forest. Much of it was cleared in the 1800s.

The Gold Coast is in the southeast of Queensland, south of Brisbane. The Albert River forms part of its northern border. The city stretches about 56 kilometers (35 miles) south to the New South Wales border. To the west, it reaches the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. This area includes the beautiful Lamington National Park, a World Heritage Site.

Coolangatta is the city's southernmost town. It has Point Danger and a lighthouse. Coolangatta is next to Tweed Heads in New South Wales. From Coolangatta, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) of resorts and beaches stretch north. Southport and Surfers Paradise are the main business areas.

The Nerang River is the biggest river here. Many wetlands along this river were turned into man-made canals. These canals are over 260 kilometers (160 miles) long, much longer than Venice's canals! Many homes are built on artificial islands along these waterways.

To the west, the city meets the Gold Coast hinterland, part of the Great Dividing Range. Lamington National Park protects 206 square kilometers (80 square miles) of this area. It's a World Heritage site because of its unique geology and rare rainforest plants and animals. Many people enjoy hiking and day trips here. You might even hear Black flying foxes at night, helping to spread seeds in the rainforest.

Gold Coast Urban Structure

The City of Gold Coast includes many suburbs, towns, and rural areas. Southport is the main business district (CBD). New investments are helping it grow and create new opportunities.

Gold Coast Waterways

Living by the water with canals is a special feature of the Gold Coast. Most homes along the canals have private docks. The Gold Coast Seaway lets boats go directly from The Broadwater and the canals to the Pacific Ocean.

The first residential canals were built in the 1950s and are still being built today. Most canals are connected to the Nerang River. There are also canals along Tallebudgera Creek and Currumbin Creek to the south. To the north, they are found along the Gold Coast Broadwater and Coomera River. Over 890 kilometers (550 miles) of waterfront land has been created for homes. More than 80,000 people live along these waterways.

Gold Coast Beaches

The city has 70 kilometers (43 miles) of coastline. It boasts some of the best surfing spots in Australia and the world. Famous beaches include Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, and Burleigh Heads. There is almost 42 kilometers (26 miles) of continuous beachfront. Duranbah Beach, a famous surfing beach, is just across the New South Wales border.

There are also beaches along the Gold Coast's 860 kilometers (530 miles) of tidal waterways. Popular inland beaches include Southport, Budds Beach, and Evandale Lake.

Beach Safety and Management

The Gold Coast has Australia's largest professional surf lifesaving service. These lifeguards protect people on the beaches and teach about surf safety. The Queensland Shark Control Program helps keep swimmers safe from sharks. Lifeguards will clear the water if there is any safety risk.

Gold Coast beaches have faced serious sand erosion in the past. In 1967, many cyclones washed away most of the sand. Engineers from the Netherlands helped create a plan to protect the beaches. Many of these plans have been put into action. The Gold Coast is also improving its Gold Coast Oceanway. This path allows for eco-friendly travel along the beaches.

Gold Coast Climate

The Gold Coast has a warm, humid subtropical climate. Winters are mild to warm, and summers are hot and humid. Most rain falls in summer, often during thunderstorms. Winters are pleasant with little rain. This nice winter weather makes the Gold Coast famous worldwide.

Temperatures rarely go above 35°C (95°F) in summer or below 5°C (41°F) in winter. The average sea temperature at Surfers Paradise is about 21.5°C (70.7°F) in winter and 27.1°C (80.8°F) in summer.

Gold Coast Government

The Gold Coast is a local government area called the City of Gold Coast. The City Council has 14 elected councillors. Each councillor represents a different part of the city. Tom Tate is the current Mayor of the Gold Coast, first elected in 2012. Past mayors include Ron Clarke and Sir Bruce Small. Sir Bruce Small helped develop many of the canal estates.

At the state level, the Gold Coast has eleven members in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. These members represent different electoral districts. Federally, the Gold Coast is divided into five areas for the House of Representatives.

The Gold Coast has often supported conservative political parties. It was a stronghold for the Country Party after World War II. Now, it is mostly a Liberal Party area. The Labor has had some success around Labrador and Coolangatta.

Southport Courthouse is the city's main courthouse. It handles minor criminal cases and civil matters. More serious cases are heard in Brisbane. There is also a smaller Magistrates Court in Coolangatta.

Gold Coast Economy

In 50 years, the Gold Coast grew from a small holiday spot to Australia's sixth-largest city. It is one of Australia's fastest-growing big cities. The local economy has grown a lot. Tourism is still very important to the Gold Coast. Almost 10 million visitors come to the area each year.

In the past, building, tourism, and shopping drove the economy. Now, it has many different industries. These include marine, education, technology, food, arts, and sports. These industries are key to the city's future success. The Gold Coast's unemployment rate is lower than the national average.

The main business district in Southport is growing. New investments are creating many new business opportunities. The Gold Coast Economic Development Strategy guides the city's long-term growth. It focuses on innovation, culture, infrastructure, and competitive businesses.

Gold Coast Tourism

The Gold Coast is Queensland's most popular tourist destination. It is Australia's fifth most visited city by international tourists. About 10 million tourists visit every year. This includes international visitors, domestic overnight visitors, and day-trippers. Tourism is the city's biggest industry. It brings in over $4.4 billion each year and creates one in four jobs.

The city has about 65,000 hotel beds and 60 kilometers (37 miles) of beaches. It also has 600 kilometers (370 miles) of canals and 100,000 hectares of nature reserves. There are 500 restaurants, 40 golf courses, and five major theme parks.

Gold Coast Airport connects the city to other parts of Australia and the world. Airlines like Jetstar and Virgin Australia fly here. Brisbane Airport is also less than an hour away.

Gold Coast City has over 13,000 guest rooms. These bring in over $335 million to the local economy each year. You can find everything from hostels to five-star resorts. The big attractions are the many theme parks. These include Dreamworld, Sea World, Wet'n'Wild Water World, and Warner Bros. Movie World. Other popular spots are Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Paradise Country.

The Q1 building opened in 2005. It was once the world's tallest residential tower. It is a popular spot for tourists and locals. The observation deck on level 77 offers amazing views. It is the highest public viewpoint in Queensland. The Q1 is 322.5 meters (1,058 feet) tall, making it Australia's tallest building.

Another famous attraction is the Surfers Paradise Meter Maids. They started in 1965 to help with parking. They put coins in expired meters to prevent tickets. The Maids are still a part of Surfers Paradise culture today.

Chinatown, Gold Coast is an important part of Southport's growth as a major city center.

Gold Coast Film Production

The Gold Coast is a major film production hub in Queensland. It has been responsible for 75% of all film production in Queensland since the 1990s. This brings in about $150 million each year. The Gold Coast is Australia's third-largest film production center.

Many major movies have been filmed here. These include Scooby-Doo (2002), Superman Returns (2006), and Aquaman (2018).

Village Roadshow Studios are next to the Warner Bros Movie World Theme Park. The studios have eight sound stages and other facilities. These sound stages cover 10,844 square meters (116,720 square feet). This makes it one of the largest studio lots in the Southern Hemisphere. The Queensland Government supports the film and television industry.

Gold Coast Culture

The Gold Coast's culture has changed a lot with fast development. It is often seen as a place for 'sun, sand, and surf'. However, there is also a strong local culture. This includes things like surf groups and a unique 'Gold Coaster' identity. The Gold Coast hosts many cultural activities for everyone.

Gold Coast Music Scene

Music groups from this region include the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra. Musicians like Cody Simpson and Ricki-Lee Coulter are from the Gold Coast. Music events include the Blues on Broadbeach Festival.

Gold Coast Arts

Home of the Arts (HOTA) is the Gold Coast's main cultural center. It has a performance theatre, two cinemas, and an underground venue. The theatre has hosted performances by the Imperial Russian Ballet and The Australian Ballet. Musicals and plays are often scheduled. The city also has the Gold Coast City Art Gallery. Film festivals and comedy clubs feature international artists. A new cultural area opened before the city hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Gold Coast Sports

The two most popular sports on the Gold Coast are Australian rules football and rugby league. The city has professional teams in both national competitions:

Team name	Competition	Sport	Years
Gold Coast Titans	National Rugby League	Rugby league football	2007–present
Gold Coast Suns	Australian Football League	Australian rules football	2011–present

The Burleigh Bears rugby league football club plays in the Queensland Cup. They have won four championships.

Popular activities on the Gold Coast include surfing, fishing, cycling, boating, and golf. The area has many golf links, such as Hope Island and Sanctuary Cove.

Sporting facilities include the Carrara Stadium and the Sports Super Centre. Newer facilities like the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre have been built.

Famous athletes from the Gold Coast include Olympic gold medalist swimmer Grant Hackett. Tennis champion Samantha Stosur and runner Sally Pearson are also from here.

The Gold Coast has sometimes been called a "sporting graveyard." Many professional clubs have struggled to succeed here. However, The Gold Coast Suns made it to their first AFL Finals series in 2025. They lost in the semi-finals to the Brisbane Lions.

Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast

The Gold Coast hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games. This big international sports event took place from April 4 to 15, 2018. It was the fifth time Australia hosted the Games. It was also the first time the event had an equal number of events for male and female athletes. Over 4,400 athletes from 71 countries competed.

Many venues across the city were used for the Games. These included Carrara Stadium, the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, and the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.

Olympic and Paralympic Games in Gold Coast

The Gold Coast will be one of the host zones for the 2032 Summer Olympics and 2032 Summer Paralympics in Brisbane. It will use venues from the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Gold Coast Zone will have seven venues. It will host nine Olympic and six Paralympic sports.

The Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre will host preliminary volleyball. It will also host powerlifting and sitting volleyball for the Paralympics. Broadbeach Park Stadium will host beach volleyball for the Olympics. It will also host football 5-a-side for the Paralympics.

The Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre will host judo and wrestling. For the Paralympics, it will host boccia. Southport Broadwater Parklands will be used for triathlon and marathon swimming. It will also host paratriathlon. The Coomera Indoor Sports Centre will host volleyball and wheelchair rugby. Robina Stadium will host preliminary football matches. Carrara Stadium might host cricket if it's approved for the 2028 Olympics.

Other Gold Coast Events

The Gold Coast 500 is a car racing event held every October. It takes place on the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit. This circuit runs through the streets of Surfers Paradise and Main Beach. The Gold Coast 500 often has other events around the race weekend.

Each June, Coolangatta hosts Cooly Rocks On. This two-week festival celebrates the 1950s and 1960s. It features hot rods, classic cars, and live music. Every July, over 25,000 people come to the Gold Coast for the Gold Coast Marathon. This is the city's largest annual community sports event. It includes races for all ages and abilities.

In August, Currumbin hosts the Challenge Gold Coast triathlon. This event includes swimming in the Currumbin River. It also features biking through the hinterland and running along the beach.

From late November to early December, thousands of school leavers visit for Schoolies week. This is a two-week celebration in Surfers Paradise. The Queensland Police Service and volunteers work to keep everyone safe.

Early each year, the Gold Coast hosts a leg of the ASP World Tour of surfing. Some of the world's best surfers compete in the Quiksilver Pro at Coolangatta.

Home of the Arts, Gold Coast in Evandale has a fine art gallery. It shows local and international paintings, sculptures, and new media. It also has a theatre for live shows and two cinemas.

Chinatown, Gold Coast in Southport hosts the annual Lunar New Year festival. It also has regular monthly events.

Gold Coast Media

Print Media

The local daily newspaper is the Gold Coast Bulletin. It is published by News Corporation. The national surfing magazine Australia's Surfing Life is published in Burleigh Heads.

Major daily newspapers from Brisbane and Sydney are also available. These include The Courier-Mail and The Daily Telegraph. National papers like The Australian can also be bought here.

Television in Gold Coast

The Gold Coast receives TV channels from both Brisbane and Northern NSW. Brisbane channels include Seven, Nine, and 10. Regional channels are also available.

ABC and SBS channels are also broadcast. Other channels include 10 Drama, Nickelodeon, and ABC Kids. Subscription TV service Foxtel is also available.

Nine Gold Coast News produces a local news bulletin at 5:30pm on weekdays. NBN airs NBN News, a regional program at 6pm. Network 10 provides short local news updates throughout the day.

Radio in Gold Coast

Many radio stations broadcast on the Gold Coast. These include commercial, ABC, and community stations.

The Gold Coast's FM commercial stations are 92.5 Triple M and 90.9 Sea FM. Community stations include 94.1FM and Juice107.3.

ABC Gold Coast is the local ABC station. Other ABC national radio services are also available.

The Gold Coast can also receive some Brisbane and Northern NSW radio stations.

Gold Coast Education

Colleges and Universities

The Gold Coast has two main university campuses. These are Bond University in Robina and Griffith University in Southport. Southern Cross University also has a campus in Bilinga. TAFE Queensland has five campuses across the city.

Schools and Libraries

There are over 100 primary and secondary schools. These include public and private schools. Southport State High School is the oldest public school, opened in 1916. The Gold Coast also has many libraries.

Gold Coast Health

In 2018, about 61.6% of the city's population was overweight or obese.

Gold Coast Infrastructure

Utilities

Electricity

Electricity for the Gold Coast comes from Powerlink Queensland. It is supplied from a multi-state power system. Energex distributes and sells electricity to homes and businesses.

Water Supply

The Hinze Dam, southwest of Nerang, is the main water supply. The Little Nerang Dam also helps supply water. Both are managed by Gold Coast Water. The Gold Coast also gets water from Wivenhoe Dam for its northern suburbs.

Water shortages have been an issue. Some new areas have dual water systems. These provide recycled water for use around the home. The Gold Coast has been recognized for this system in its Pimpama-Coomera suburbs. Gold Coast Water can supply up to 133 megalitres of desalinated water per day.

Gold Coast Transport

Cars are the main way people travel on the Gold Coast. Over 70% of people use a car to get to work. The city has many main roads connecting coastal and inland areas. Governments have invested in transport to reduce traffic. The Gold Coast has a good public transport network. This includes buses, heavy rail, and light rail.

Road Transport

Several major roads connect the Gold Coast to Brisbane and New South Wales. The Pacific Motorway (M1) is the main highway. It runs through the Gold Coast and connects to the Pacific Highway at the NSW border. The Gold Coast Highway serves the coastal suburbs. Other important roads include the Smith Street Motorway and Reedy Creek Road.

Light Rail Transport

The Gold Coast's light rail service is called G:link. It is a 20-kilometer (12-mile) line. It runs between Helensvale and Broadbeach. It also connects Southport and Surfers Paradise. The G:link opened in 2014. It was extended to Helensvale in 2017 for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Heavy Rail Transport

Queensland Rail operates a train service from Brisbane to the Gold Coast. This is along the Gold Coast railway line. The line has stations at Coomera, Helensvale, and Robina. It ends at Varsity Lakes. There are plans to extend the line to the Gold Coast Airport.

Bus Transport

Kinetic Gold Coast runs all public bus services in the city. These services are part of the Translink network. Buses run frequently throughout the day. Kinetic operates over 400 buses on more than 70 routes.

Airports

The main international airport is Gold Coast Airport. It is in Coolangatta, about 22 kilometers (14 miles) south of Surfers Paradise. It has flights to major Australian cities and international destinations. In 2019, it was Australia's sixth busiest airport.

Smaller private airfields are in Coombabah and Norwell. These are used for flight training and recreational flying.

Transport Projects

• Stage 3 of the G:link Light Rail system to Burleigh Heads is currently being built. It is expected to open in 2025. Planning for Stage 4 is also underway. This stage is set to open before the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
• The existing heavy rail Gold Coast line will be extended to Coolangatta.
• Upgrades are being made to the Pacific Motorway M1.

Gold Coast Real Estate

The Gold Coast's real estate market is very active. It has luxury coastal homes, new residential areas, and investment chances. Property values have grown a lot recently. This is due to the city's lifestyle, its closeness to Brisbane, and ongoing building projects.

Notable People from Gold Coast

• Megan Anderson, MMA fighter
• Mackenzie Arnold, football goalkeeper for the Australia national team
• Mick Doohan, five-time 500 cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing world champion
• Mick Fanning, surfer
• Grant Hackett, Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer
• Nathan Jones, former professional wrestler
• Sophie Monk, television personality, actress and singer
• Joel Parkinson, surfer
• Sally Pearson, Olympic gold medal-winning hurdler
• Margot Robbie, actress
• Amy Shark, singer-songwriter and producer
• Cody Simpson, swimmer and singer
• Samantha Stosur, tennis champion
• Anna Torv, actress
• Jessica Watson, sailor

See also

In Spanish: Gold Coast (Australia) para niños

• Gold Coast hinterland
• List of tallest buildings on the Gold Coast