City Libraries, City of Gold Coast

Ruins of the Surfers Paradise Hotel and zoo after it was destroyed by fire, Queensland, 6 July 1936

Ruins of the Surfers Paradise Hotel and zoo after it was destroyed by fire, Queensland, 6 July 1936

This was the original Surfers Paradise Hotel, including a private zoo, erected by Jim Cavill on 26 November 1925, on the corner of Ferry Road (now Cavill Avenue) and the future Gold Coast Highway. He named the hotel after a real estate subdivision marketed as the Surfers Paradise Estate, which was released in 1917. At a later date a verandah was added surrounding the front entrance to the hotel. This building was destroyed by fire on 6 July 1936.