Main Beach, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Main Beach Gold Coast, Queensland
Foreshore beach houses, 2015
Main Beach Location in Queensland
Population	3,998 (2021 census)
• Density	579/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4217
Elevation	13 m (43 ft)
Area	6.9 km2 (2.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	2.7 km (2 mi) N of Surfers Paradise 2.8 km (2 mi) E of Southport 75.9 km (47 mi) SE of Brisbane CBD 34 km (21 mi) N of Tweed Heads
LGA(s)	City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s)	Surfers Paradise
Federal Division(s)	Moncrieff
Localities around Main Beach: Biggera Waters Labrador South Stradbroke Coral Sea Southport Main Beach Coral Sea Southport Surfers Paradise Coral Sea

Main Beach is a cool coastal town and suburb on the Gold Coast in Australia. It was first called Southport East. In 2021, about 3,998 people lived here. It's known for its beautiful beaches and relaxed vibe.

Exploring Main Beach's Location

The beach of the Main Beach at low tide

Main Beach is right next to the Coral Sea on the east. To the north, you'll find the Gold Coast Seaway, which is like a big entrance from the ocean. On the west, there are channels and Macintosh Island. To the south, it meets an area called Narrow Neck.

Long ago, Main Beach was a thin strip of sand dunes. These dunes separated the mouth of the Nerang River from the ocean. This natural setup created a safe place for boats at the river's mouth, protected from the rough sea.

A Look Back at Main Beach's History

How Main Beach Became a Popular Spot

In the early days, Southport was the main fun spot on the coast. People would take a ferry across the Broadwater to surf at Main Beach. It got its name because it was the main surf beach for Southport town.

Before the 1870s, this sandy area was mostly used for yachting and other boat activities. There wasn't much else happening there.

Building Up the Area

Government sales of allotments Main Beach Southport (with map), 1923

Things started to change when the Jubilee Bridge was built. The Queensland Government began selling land here in 1922. After the bridge opened in 1926, more people bought land and built holiday homes. Some guesthouses also appeared. Not many people lived here permanently back then.

You can still see signs of its early popularity as a surf beach. There are old beachfront plants and a kiosk (a small shop) and shelter shed from 1934.

Modern Developments and Changes

In the 1950s, more land was created by filling in parts of the Nerang River. This new area is now centered around Tedder Avenue. This is why that part of Main Beach looks a bit different.

Later, in the late 1960s, the Sundale Bridge was built. The main highway was also moved to the west of Main Beach.

The sandy area to the north, known as the Southport Spit, was developed more recently. It's now home to resort hotels and theme parks. After the Gold Coast Seaway was built, new plants were added to the Spit. This makes the area look unique and connects the busy southern part with the open Broadwater.

View north to Southport and Gold Coast Broadwater, 2007

Main Beach has become a high-rise area more recently. Tedder Avenue is a popular street with restaurants, cafes, and shops. It feels more like a permanent neighborhood than some other parts of the Gold Coast's high-rise strip. Most apartment buildings along the beach are not super tall. The narrow strip of land at Narrowneck helps separate Main Beach from the busier areas to the south.

The Gold Coast Oceanway is a path that goes along the beach. In Main Beach, it goes behind the beachfront houses down to Narrowneck. Some locals would like a new path closer to the beach.

Many Norfolk Island Pines have been planted along the Main Beach foreshore. These tall trees are not native to the area.

On September 1, 1967, Southport East was officially renamed Main Beach.

Who Lives in Main Beach?

This section shares information about the people living in Main Beach.

In 2011, there were 3,496 people living in Main Beach. By 2016, this number grew to 3,883 people. Most people (59.4%) were born in Australia. The next biggest groups were from New Zealand (5.6%) and England (5.3%).

About 75.6% of people spoke only English at home. When asked about religion, many said "No Religion" (26.9%). Others were Catholic (23.3%) or Anglican (18.1%).

In the latest count in 2021, the population of Main Beach was 3,998 people.

Special Places: Heritage Listings

Main Beach logo

Main Beach has a few special places that are "heritage-listed." This means they are important historical sites that are protected.

Some of these heritage-listed sites include:

• The Main Beach Pavilion and Southport Surf Lifesaving Club (off Macarthur Parade)
• The old Southport Cable Hut (on Main Beach Parade)
• Humphreys Boat Shed (on Seaworld Drive)