City Libraries, City of Gold Coast

Surfers Paradise, Queensland, from 1928 to 1968

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Surfers Paradise, Queensland, from 1928 to 1968

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Plate 1: Year 1928, population 575. For the sum of 40 pounds, Jim Cavill purchased land at Elston (later known as Surfers Paradise) and built a hotel (lower centre of picture) and established a tropical garden and private zoo on this site, located to the rear and left of the hotel. It was subsequently destroyed by fire in 1936 and rebuilt on a more luxurious scale (refer Plate 2) for $140,000. On the opposite side of the highway to the right of the hotel on the corner of what is now known as Beach Road stood the town bakery, built in 1933, and one of the town's first cafes, established in the same year. On the opposite corner of Cavill Avenue is a garage, where the B.P. service station is now situated. The state school is now located four streets up from the hotel on the corner of Laycock Street, and was established in 1934 with an enrolment of 23 pupilsPlate 2: Year 1955, population 2,510. After the war and until 1951 Surfers Paradise did not progress because of building restrictions, subsequently lifted in 1952. 1953 saw the commencement of building on a large scale with the expenditure of $3,800,000. Although Stanley Korman was a frequent visitor to the Coast it was not until 1956 that he decided to establish what was later to be known as the Korman empire. In 1957 Stanley Korman's company, Chevron Queensland, purchased the Surfers Paradise Hotel from the Cavill family, and in the same year the zoo was transferred to its present location in Coolangatta. 1957-1960 were known as boom years and approx. $15,000,000 worth of building was constructed. Prior to 1964, building expenditure figures included SouthportPlate 3: Year 1955. On the Esplanade the lifesavers built their first club-house in 1931. It was detroyed by fire in 1937 and was replaced by a more modern brick building. The home with the well-kept gardens at the rear of the club-house was recently sold to the Chevron Group for the largest amount paid for land in Queensland of that size. The Isle of Capri can be seen in the top right hand corner. This was approx. four years before development was commencedPlate 4: Year 1958, population 3,500. During this year the first accommodation wing was built for Chevron Queensland, followed closely by the second wing. To the right of the picture lies Goat Island, which was a dairy farm to be later re-named Chevron Island by Stanley Korman. In 1959 he built the Chevron Bridge. Prior to that date the island was only accessible by water. To the top left of the picture is situated Wedgewood Island, later re-named Paradise Island. This was also a Korman project. During the year 1960 saw the first high rise apartment building for the town. It was named 'Kinkabool'. It was during this year that building of the front section of the Chevron Hotel was commenced. The same year saw the beginning of a recession which held back the growth of Surfers ParadisePlate 5: Year 1964, population 4,790. Top right of this picture shows Paradise Island and above that again the Isle of Capri. The island was developed in 1959 and has some of the most beautiful homes in Surfers Paradise. During the year of 1962, Chevron Island was purchased by two credit companies. The same year they bought the Sea Breeze serviced apartments from the Waterford family. During the period of 1958-1964 the value of buildings constructed was $17,000,000Plate 6: Year 1968, population 8,400. The years 1964-1968 was an era of rapid growth for the Gold Coast, especially Surfers Paradise, where $23,000,000 was spent on building. During this period many multi-storey home unit blocks were constructed. Amongst the largest which were located on the Esplanade were 'The Dunes' built in 1963, 'The Sands' built in 1966, 'Sahara Court' built in 1966, 'Suntower' built in 1966. In the background of the picture is 'Kinkabool'. 'Paradise Towers' was built in 1966, to the right is the L-shaped Travelodge Motor Inn built in 1964, and on the far right on the water is 'Panorama Towers' built in 1967

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