Coolangatta Heritage Walk

Discover the history and heritage of on the self-guided Coolangatta Heritage Walk.

The walk is a celebration of the rich history of the town and recognises those places of special heritage significance to the Gold Coast that have been listed on the Gold Coast Local Heritage Register. Dating back to 1883, Coolangatta is one of the earliest settlements on the Gold Coast. It was named after the brigantine, Coolangatta, which was wrecked off the beach at Kirra in 1846. By the early 1900s it was officially the place to holiday with camping grounds to accommodate holiday makers and newly formed surf life saving clubs to ensure their safety on the beaches.

“When surf bathing becomes as popular in as it is at Manly…it is probably that Coolangatta will receive the purple ribbon of superiority over its rivals in attractiveness…for the locality is favoured by many people as a delightful holiday resort” Marine Parade Coolangatta as seen from Kirra Hill, 1920s. The Queenslander, April 1912. Image courtesy of Local Studies Library.

As the popularity of Coolangatta grew, legendary guest houses like Greenmount, The Beach House and Stella Maris were established along Marine Parade. Later, as the beach culture continued to thrive at Coolangatta, motels began to replace guesthouses and tourist attractions developed to meet the changing needs of the holiday maker. Today, Coolangatta is the quintessential holiday resort.

Coolangatta beach and Marine Parade, 1935. Marine Parade, Coolangatta 1958. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library.

Along the walk you will not only discover significant heritage listed places, you will also find other places that are important in the history of Coolangatta. Plaques, monuments, shelters, laneways, motels, churches, club houses and pubs all combine in Coolangatta to tell the story of the town named after the ship, bolstered by the arrival of rail and known for its pristine beaches.

Find the full story of the Coolangatta Heritage Walk on the website http://heritage.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/heritage-walks-and-trails APEX PARK Coolangatta Heritage Walk Full Loop () 8

PAT FAGAN PARK PETRIE ST F 9 START 7 E HERE 1 MARINE PDE HILL ST D EDEN AVE 3 4 QUEEN ROUGHTON 5 B ELIZABETH 6 MUSGRAVE ST PARK PARK 2 MARINE PDE MARINE PDE 14 A 13 N C COYNE ST 12 10 G MUSGRAVE ST H HAIG ST Gold Coast Local LORD ST CHALK ST WARNER ST DOUGLAS ST Heritage Register places O LANHAM ST WINSTON ST CHURCHILL ST Places of interest M L 1. Site of the wreck of GORDON LA SKELTON COOLANGATTA RD K SCOTTI ST the Coolangatta CORNER A. Kirra Beach Hotel (formerly 2. Kirra Beach Pavilion TWEED ST Lennons Kirra Hotel) 3. Kirra Shelter Shed 11 B. Rotary Memorial Clock KIRRA 4. Coolangatta ANZAC Memorial J C. Ocean View Motel TOURIST 5. Wreck of the MILES ST PARK APPEL ST D. Resort OCEAN ST Coolangatta Memorial RUTLEDGE ST E. US Navy Leave Area Camp 6. Tweed Heads & Coolangatta KORINA AVE No.4 (picnic shelter) SIMPSON ST

MCLEAN ST Surf Life Saving Club GARRICK ST F. St George’s Rest Home STAPYLTON ST 7. Coolangatta Norfolk pines G. Qld/NSW Border Marker 8. Remains of Jack Evans H. Country Women’s Porpoise Pool Association building COOLANGATTA REED 9. Captain Cook Memorial and I. Coolangatta Bowls Club Lighthouse J. Goodwin Park War 10. Francis Edward Roberts Memorial and Gardens Commemorative Plaque K. Coolangatta Croquet Club 11. St Augustine’s Church

DUTTON ST L. St Peter’s Church 12. Jazzland Dance Hall (former) BALLOW DIXON ST M. Methodist Church Hall 13. Powell Brothers N. The Sands Hotel (formerly Commemorative Trees Kirrabelle Hotel) 14. Coolangatta State & Special O. Railway cutting – Chalk St School (former) Coolangatta Heritage Walk

Beachside Trail Border Town Loop 8 8

F 9 START 7 E HERE F 9 7 E D 1 D END 6 3 4 5 B 6 2 HERE C 10 START G A N H HERE

O

Jack Evans and his wife The Captain Cook Memorial arrived in Coolangatta in and Lighthouse was built in the late 1940s. By 1956 1970 - the result of a joint Jack had established venture of the Gold Coast the Gold Coast’s first City Council and the Tweed tourist attraction, the Shire Council. Based on famous Jack Evans a design by Gold Coast Pet Porpoise Show. He City Council architect Mr Point Danger, 1969. Jack Evans Porpoise Pool, 1958. became the first keeper Les Nyerges, the memorial Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local and trainer of dolphins included provisions for the Local Studies Library. Studies Library. in Australia. In 1961, world’s first laser-beam Jack moved the porpoise pool operations to the mouth of the lighthouse. Unfortunately, the laser-beam technology proved Tweed River and the pools remained in use as swimming baths unsuccessful and was replaced with a conventional lamp in 1972. until the late 1970s.

St Augustine’s Central Loop Jazzland Short Loop

START HERE START HERE 4 5 B 6 4 5 B 14 A N C N 13 12 10 G 12 H O M L K I M L K I 11 J J

The Catholic Parish The Jazzland ballroom of St Augustine’s opened in 1933. The began in 1924 with the building was described as appointment of Father one of the most modern Leo Carlton as Parish dance halls in Queensland. Priest. The building With Billo Smiths famous was designed by JP Trocadero Jazz Band Donoghue in the Italian frequently playing, and Romanesque style St Augustine’s Church, 1930. US Army personnel in Jazzland at the end of Griffith Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local with a nave, 110 foot Coolangatta on leave during Street, Coolangatta, 1928. Studies Library. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast campanile, and seating WWII, dancing at Jazzland Local Studies Library. for 800 people. The foundation stone was laid on Easter Monday became a popular pastime 1925 and the blessing and opening was celebrated on Sunday 26 reputedly known to thousands of young people throughout the December 1926. The church was extensively restored in 2007 to Commonwealth. The hall closed in 1951 and the building was conserve the building. converted for use as a Penney’s chain store.