Main Beach Pavilion and Southport Surf Lifesaving Club facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Main Beach Pavilion and Southport Surf Lifesaving Club |
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Main Beach pavilion, 2013
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| Location | off Macarthur Parade, Main Beach, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1934, 1936 |
| Built for | Southport Town Council, Southport Surf Lifesaving Club |
| Architect | Hall and Phillips |
| Official name: Main Beach Pavilion and Southport Surf Lifesaving Club | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 1 March 1995 |
| Reference no. | 601265 |
| Significant period | 1934, 1936, 1958, 1978 (fabric) 1934–ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | clubroom/s / clubhouse, changing rooms/dressing shed |
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The Main Beach Pavilion and the Southport Surf Lifesaving Club are special old buildings located on Main Beach in Queensland, Australia. These buildings were designed by the famous architects Hall and Phillips. The Main Beach Pavilion was built in 1934 for the Southport Town Council. Two years later, in 1936, the Surf Lifesaving Club building was added next to it for the local surf lifesavers.
Both buildings are considered important historical sites. They were officially added to the Queensland Heritage Register on March 1, 1995.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Buildings
The Main Beach Pavilion and Southport Surf Lifesaving Club were built in the mid-1930s. This was a time when Southport, a town in Queensland, was growing very quickly. More and more people loved going to the beach for fun.
The Main Beach Pavilion opened in 1934. It offered public changing rooms and showers for beachgoers. The Surf Lifesaving Club building, finished in 1936, gave surf lifesavers a place to sleep, store their gear, and meet. Both buildings were designed by the same architects, Hall and Phillips.
Why Beaches Became Popular
In the 1930s, many people started getting paid holidays from work. This meant they had more free time for trips. Coastal towns like Southport became popular holiday spots. Local councils worked hard to make their beaches beautiful. They also built public facilities to attract more visitors.
Southport has been a popular beach destination since the 1880s. Major families from Brisbane often chose Southport for their seaside holidays. The opening of a railway line to Southport in 1889 made it even easier for people to visit.
As more people flocked to the beaches, rules for swimming became necessary. By 1906, local councils could set rules for swimwear and bathing areas. This helped keep everyone safe and comfortable.
The Main Beach Pavilion
In the early 1900s, people used private sheds to change for swimming. But by the 1920s, public bathing became more common. Going to the beach changed from being seen as a health cure to a fun activity. Councils saw that holidaymakers could bring money to their towns. So, they started building public changing sheds and pavilions.
The Southport Town Council had a plan to make the foreshore (the area along the beach) more beautiful. Building bathing pavilions was part of this plan. Two pavilions were built in Southport. The Main Beach Pavilion was the larger one.
It cost £4,447 to build, with half the money coming from the Queensland Government. The pavilion was made of brick and concrete. It had separate sections for men and women, with lockers, showers, and toilets. There was also a first aid room and a hall for dancing.
Both pavilions opened on December 22, 1934. The Main Beach Pavilion was described as having a "Spanish design." Its roof was made of a special material to prevent rust. When it first opened, a couple managed the pavilion. They charged a small fee for entry to help with maintenance.
Over the years, parts of the building have been used for different things. In the 1940s, surf lifesavers used some rooms for storage. A small shop (kiosk) was added in the mid-1960s. In 1991-1992, a colorful mural was painted on a curved wall at the southern end of the pavilion.
The Southport Surf Lifesaving Club
As more people swam, there were also more drownings. This worried the Southport Chamber of Commerce. They hired beach inspectors, but these inspectors often lacked experience and equipment. This led to the creation of surf lifesaving clubs.
The Southport Surf Lifesaving Club started in 1912. It was one of the first in Australia, just six years after the very first club formed at Bondi Beach. The club had a few breaks but reformed for good in 1919.
The club built its first permanent home in 1927. It was a small timber building with a corrugated iron roof. This building had a club room and a first aid room. Sadly, it was destroyed by strong winds in 1936.
After their first building was destroyed, the club asked the Southport Town Council for help. They wanted a new, better clubhouse. The council suggested they use the Main Beach Pavilion, but the club felt it wasn't big enough. They wanted their own separate building.
In 1936, the Queensland Government helped the Southport Town Council fund a new surf lifesaving clubhouse. It cost about 1,500 Pounds. The new club was built next to the Main Beach Pavilion. It was a single-story building with a large main room and two smaller sections. It had ping-pong and billiard tables, showers, a boat house, and lockers.
The club has grown over time with several additions. In 1958, a two-story extension was added for more storage and dormitories (sleeping areas). In 1978, another large extension was built. This one included a restaurant and bar to help the club earn money. It also had a gym and living quarters.
In 1993, a TV show called Paradise Beach used the Main Beach Pavilion and the Surf Lifesaving Club as outdoor filming locations. This led to the outside of both buildings being painted.
What the Buildings Look Like
The Southport Surf Lifesaving Club and the Main Beach Pavilion are easy to spot on Main Beach. They are both built in a style called Spanish Mission Revival. This style often features decorative gables (the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof), strong pillars (pilasters), and stucco (a type of plaster) on the outside. The roofs are made of corrugated fibrous cement, which looks like traditional Spanish tiles.
Main Beach Pavilion Design
The Main Beach Pavilion is a single-story building. It is used for public toilets, showers, and changing rooms. It also has a kiosk (small shop) and storage areas. It is made of brick and concrete with a fibrous cement roof.
The building has a rectangular shape. It has parts that stick out on the east and west sides. These parts have decorative gables with fancy patterns. The western side, which faces Macarthur Parade, is very detailed. It has a sign area and a special design with the year "1934" (when it was built). It also says "MAIN BEACH PAVILION."
The eastern side, facing the beach, looks similar. It has a roofed area supported by four strong pillars. There are five entrances on this side, with rolling doors. Inside, some areas have been changed with new walls. You can still see some original timber benches and towel rails from the 1930s in the changing rooms.
Southport Surf Lifesaving Club Design
The Southport Surf Lifesaving Club is a two-story building. It is made of brick, concrete, and cement blocks. It provides dormitories, storage, and fun spaces for the surf lifesaving club. It also has toilets, showers, and a restaurant.
The club building includes the original 1934 section, which now has two stories. There are also two large additions on the southern side. The first addition looks similar to the original building. The second addition is a large, two-story, flat-roofed structure.
The western side of the original 1934 building has a decorative gable. It features two strong pillars topped with urns. The gable has the words "SOUTHPORT S.L.S.C." and the year "1936." The roof of the original building is gabled and covered with corrugated fibrous cement. Inside, many concrete block walls have been added.
Why These Buildings Are Important
The Main Beach Pavilion and Southport Surf Lifesaving Club are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means they are protected because they are important to Queensland's history and culture.
- Showing History: These buildings help us understand how the Gold Coast became a popular holiday spot. They also show how going to the beach changed from being a health activity to a fun pastime.
- Unique Examples: They are rare examples of how buildings and the environment looked in the 1930s on the south coast.
- Architectural Style: The buildings are great examples of the Spanish Mission style of architecture. They also show the important public work of the famous architectural firm, Hall and Phillips.
- Community Connection: These buildings have a strong link to the Surf Lifesaving Association of Queensland, especially the Southport Branch. They represent the important role surf lifesavers play in keeping beaches safe.
See also
- Surf lifesaving
- Surf Life Saving Australia
- List of Australian surf lifesaving clubs
