Coolangatta Heritage Walk

Discover the history and heritage of . Coolangatta beach and

Point Danger, 1891 Image courtesy of Library. Image courtesy of City of Gold Marine Parade, 1935 Coast Local Studies Library. Marine Parade,

Coolangatta, 1950 Image courtesy of City of Gold Image courtesy of City of Gold View of Coolangatta, 1970 Coast Local Studies Library. Coast Local Studies Library. Contents

Quintessential holiday resort Coolangatta Heritage Walk full loop map Shipwrecks and borders - Named after a ‘perfect wreck’ Dividing the towns Saving lives in Coolangatta since 1909 The iconic structures that represent the history of Surf Life Saving in Coolangatta - Tweed Heads and Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club - Kirra Surf Life Saving Club - The Kirra Shelter Shed Honouring those who served and remembering the fallen - The Great War - World War 2 Creating a destination - A place to stay, a place to play The making of a community - Historic places of worship - A school brought on by the flu! - The CWA still stands - Historic places for recreation - A watering hole by any other name…

Aerial view over point danger and Coolangatta, 2003 Image courtesy of Local Studies Library. Quintessential holiday resort The town of Coolangatta dates back to 1883 when the first land surveys of town allotments took place. It is one of the earliest settlements on the Gold Coast and a place whose history, topography and beach culture set it apart from other places on the Coast.

Named after the brigantine the Coolangatta which was wrecked off the beach at Kirra, it became the twin town to Tweed Heads across the border in 1883.

Initially, development in Coolangatta was slow. The opening of the railway from to Coolangatta in 1903, however, brought with it crowds of people eager to visit the wide, safe beaches on the back of a growing interest in surf bathing. Coolangatta officially became the place to holiday with camping grounds and legendary guest houses like Greenmount, the Beach House and Stella Maris providing not only accommodation but organised social events as well.

The formation of the Coolangatta Town Council in 1914 allowed for a local government that was more focussed on the interests of the border town and this saw a recognition of the burgeoning tourist market and the creation of policies to capitalise on this.

The arrival of Spanish Influenza in 1919 saw the closing of the / border. This prevented people freely crossing from one state to the other. As the bulk of local services and facilities were in Tweed Heads, this was the catalyst for the rapid development of services and facilities in Coolangatta. Hotels, shops, cafes, dance halls and theatres developed along Griffith Street and Marine Parade to cater for a population that could not cross the border and, in the early part of the twentieth century, could swell to around 30,000 during holiday periods.

During the Second World War, Coolangatta became a leave area for American service personnel. 1883 plan of the Town of Coolangatta. The influence of the Americans on Coolangatta was overwhelming. The US Army commandeered Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library. land and buildings where they established leave camps and brought with them new and exciting cultural practices. American men bathed ‘topless’, hot dogs and french fries were introduced and dancing the jitterbug to a big band saw the local community experience new freedoms.

Today, Coolangatta is the quintessential holiday resort town with a fascinating mix of heritage buildings, landscapes and modern high rise all shaped in part by the arrival of rail, the outbreak of influenza and the impact of American culture.

8 9 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 Gold Coast MUSGRAVE ST H HAIG ST Local Heritage

LORD ST CHALK ST WARNER ST DOUGLAS ST 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 I. Coolangatta Bowls Club and 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 & O. Railway cutting – Chalk St Special School (former)

10 11 Shipwrecks and borders

Named after a ‘perfect wreck’ In 1884 when the area was formally surveyed for town allotments, it was the convention that the town surveyor, in this case Henry Schneider, supplied the town name. In light The 88 tonne topsail schooner Coolangatta was built in a shipyard on the in 1843 by of the nearby wreck, he thought that Coolangatta would be a fitting name for the creek John Blundell for landowner and named after his country estate. The original spelling and the new township. And so the town of Coolangatta was officially named. of the schooner’s name was Coolongatta though this changed over time to become Coolangatta. In March 1974, the wreck rose from the ocean bed and floated to shore following a cyclone. In July 1846, the Coolangatta left Brisbane to load 70,000 super feet of cedar at Tweed for southern It was broken in two – the large timber framework and the copper sheeted bow. Fragments ports. Captain Andrew Steele was the master of the ship and along with the crew, there were two were collected by the Shire Council at this time. Nearby the wreck site is a Memorial to the passengers on board; prisoners George Craig and William George Lewis, en-route to Sydney Coolangatta. There is also a fragment of the wreck on display in Queen Elizabeth Park. 5 gaol. One month later, in August 1846, the Coolangatta would be wrecked on Kirra beach. 1 The Coolangatta wreck is listed on the Australian National Shipwreck Database (ID The Courier reported the tragedy in an article in August 29th 1846: 2347) and is protected under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976. “Loss of the schooner Coolongatta. It is with regret that we have to report the loss of this schooner on Wednesday the 18th instant at Point Danger, near the mouth of the Tweed River. The Coolangatta left this port on the 6th ultimo to load cedar in the tweed but in consequence of the small depth of water at the bar she could not enter the river and was necessitated to anchor on the north side of point danger, for the purpose of rafting the timber from the shore. On the evening of Tuesday week the wind blew strong from the north east and subsequently veered round to the eastward with increasing force until Wednesday morning when the schooner parted with both anchors and was driven ashore high and dry. The captain was on shore rafting timber at the time of the gale commence and we believe was unable to reach the ship in consequence of the boat having stove a few days previous.

The crew saved themselves by swimming through the surf at the imminent risk of their lives. There were two prisoners on board, one of them, Craig, had been sentenced by the Brisbane bench to an iron gang and the other named Lewis had been committed for a breach of the Hired Servants Act. The former had his irons knocked off and was thus enabled to swim for his life. The captain crew and prisoners reached the pilot station at Amity on Tuesday evening last having walked from Point Danger along the beach. On Thursday evening Captain Steele and the crew went aboard the Tamar and proceeded to Sydney. The two prisoners were brought to Brisbane yesterday in the pilots boat and immediately delivered themselves up to the chief constable.

The schooner has only her lower masts standing and is expected shortly to become a perfect wreck as there is a good deal of sand in her already. She had a nearly full cargo of cedar on board at the time the disaster occurred. The natives behaved very kindly to the shipwrecked men and provided them with fish every evening during their stay at Point Danger.”

Wreckage of a wooden vessel believed to be that of the Coolangatta near the mouth of Coolangatta Creek, c1970s . Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library.

12 13 Dividing the towns

In 1862, plans were made by the Colonial Roberts and Rowland did not always survey fence was to keep out the cattle tick which was In 1999, the Gold Coast City and Tweed Secretarys of Queensland and NSW to conduct a the same line and there are deviations infesting Queensland cattle herds. A turnstile Shire Councils sought suggestions from joint survey of the first section of the Queensland/ throughout the survey, however it was apparent which allowed people through was erected at the community for a another memorial to New South Wales border – the watershed from the outset that Roberts’ survey defined Coolangatta and by 1914, the turnstile was mark the border. The project was partly section. Two surveyors were chosen for the the border. This was accepted by both replaced with an overbridge. This wide area supported by the Commonwealth Government task, Francis Edward Roberts from Queensland Queensland and New South Wales though of separation between the towns became for Federation funding with the idea that and Isaiah Rowland from NSW. The Queensland there has yet been no formal agreement. particularly important during the Influenza the monument would represent the rich Surveyor-General, A.C. Gregory stipulated that epidemic of 1919 when the border was closed to history associated with the border. Roberts and Rowland should take their own Initially, the border was marked with a fence aid in the prevention of the spread of the disease. measurements separately and in June 1863, the extending from Point Danger through the The proposal by Rodney Spooner, a Queensland two surveyors began their survey at Point Danger. twin towns with border gates for access In December 1948 a small monument to honour artist, was accepted. The marker was designed across the border and a customs house the achievement of Queensland surveyor in a contemporary style to reflect the past The survey was an arduous task in difficult established in the early 1870s to administer Francis Edward Roberts was unveiled. 10 and signal the future for two communities terrain and the surveyors depended on the cross border trade. Thomas Carrick was the working together. The design is symbolic of help and knowledge of Aboriginal people. first New South Wales Customs officer. By the early 1970s a new border monument an unobstructed doorway between the two Such was the dependence on Aboriginal had been established. It included States and is located at the site of the early people that Roberts employed them, paying In 1904, a double border fence was erected archways, gardens and a waterfall and was fence and gates as a reminder of that historical them wages at a time when Aboriginal people and encompassed a buffer strip of land known popular with tourists as a unique photo period. The border marker monument was as ‘no man’s land’ that ran from Point Danger opportunity. It was dismantled in 1991. were more often exploited. With their help, officially opened on 15 January 2001. G the survey was completed by 1866. to Cobaki Broadwater. The intention of the

1899 1907 1910 1919

1930 1930 1970 2001

Queensland/New South Wales border 1899 - 2013. Images courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library and City of Gold Coast.

14 15 Saving lives in Coolangatta since 1909 The iconic structures that represent the history of surf life Tweed Heads and Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club saving in Coolangatta Two days after that first rescue, the Tweed over and around the existing pavilion building Heads Surf and Life Saving Club 6 was in 1956 and has been altered over the years The development of surf life saving at Coolangatta “…four ladies ventured out beyond their depth. formed. In 1911, the club was reformed to to accommodate the needs of the club. began with the State’s first recorded rescue in (A) young man endeavoured to effect a rescue, become the Tweed Heads and Coolangatta 1909 by a group of local, aspiring surf life savers. but was carried out. Fortunately there were others Surf Life Saving Club and has, since that time, The club has always attracted large summer Modelled on a group of New South Wales surf in the vicinity who finally succeeded in getting the operated patrols on Greenmount Beach. crowds and was particularly popular during the life savers from Bondi, they were equipped with a whole party of five safely to shore, but the young 1950s when the famous Hokey Pokey, hosted by recently purchased demonstration reel, line and man and one of the ladies had almost expired…” The first club house, a humble timber building, Doug Roughton, was danced on the lawn by big belt. The report in a February 1909 edition of The was replaced in 1936 with a more elaborate crowds and Sunday concerts were the norm. Queenslander tells of the gravity of the situation; pavilion. One end of the building was leased to the surf club. The current club house was built

The Tweed Heads & Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club c1936. The Tweed Heads & Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club c1958. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library.

16 17 Saving lives in Coolangatta since 1909 Kirra Surf Life Saving Club The Kirra Shelter Shed

The Kirra Surf Life Saving Club 2 was formed in 1922 by a larger timber pavilion which The Kirra Shelter Shed 3 has also been a fixture Described in 1924 as a “very fine shelter in 1916 following a tragic drowning. eventually boasted a roof top dance floor. on Kirra Beach for the better part of a century. shed”, it has been a continuous part of the Early photographs of Kirra Beach show the Kirra Beach landscape since its construction The Brisbane Courier reported the drowning In 1935, construction began on the present shelter in place by around 1910, although the and has withstood a number of cyclones of Mr Robert Doran in January 1917: “He pavilion. It was opened by the Queensland project to provide a public shelter is sometimes during that time. In 2004, due to deterioration, had gone surfing at 6.30am with a friend, Mr Governor in 1936 and newspaper reports reported as a joint initiative of the Coolangatta the shelter was reconstructed by Council. John George. Both were carried out by the noted that “it would be hard to find a better Council and the Kirra Surf Life Saving Club. undercurrent and got into difficulties. Mr George building of its class elsewhere on the coast of made an effort to save his companion, but Australia”. The building was designed in the was unsuccessful, and only managed to save Tudor Revival style by architect John Beebe and himself by floating ashore on his back..”. included a kiosk, changing facilities and public conveniences, as well as rooms for the use of At a public meeting held at the Coolangatta the Kirra Surf Life Saving Club. Over time, the Town Hall the following day, a group of building has been altered and additions made residents decided to form the Kirra Life Saving to accommodate the needs of the surf club. Club. The first club house, a simple shed, Kirra Beach, c1910. Kirra Shelter Shed, 2010. was built in 1917 and replaced 5 years later Image courtesy of City of Gold Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast. Coast Local Studies Library.

Kirra Beach, c1930 showing the 1922 Kirra Surf Life Saving Club house. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library.

Kirra Beach Pavilion, c1940s. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library.

18 19 Honouring those who served and remembering the fallen

The Great War St George’s F , a soldiers’ rest home, was In 1953, the original timber rest home established on Marine Parade in 1917 by the was replaced with a more solid brick Commemoration and the establishment of Soldiers’ Church of Help Society. This building with extensions added in 1958 memorials to those who served and gave was greatly supported by the local community and 1961. It is an example of almost 100 their lives in World War 1 was a nation-wide and by 1922, it was reported that 4000 years of strong community spirit and undertaking and Coolangatta, with its tight knit returned soldiers had enjoyed a rest at the commitment to those who serve. community, was no exception. In Coolangatta, home with no charge. The “sole qualification the Methodist congregation erected a memorial for admission was steadiness of conduct.” church M in 1924, dedicated to the Methodist The Brisbane Courier, 22 June 1922. soldiers who gave their lives in the Great War. This was the first church to be erected in Coolangatta. It remains on its original site and is now used by the church as a hall.

Opening ceremony for the Coolangatta Methodist Memorial Church, 1924. Image courtesy of John Oxley Library.

In 1926, the well known Coolangatta ANZAC memorial 4 was constructed in the centre of the intersection of Griffith and McLean Streets. The obelisk was a popular design all over Australia. Here, it is carved with crossed rifles, (suggested by some to symbolise the soldier who had no further use of his weapon), and the top of the obelisk is draped with a funeral shroud. The memorial is the work of monumental masonry firm A. L. Petrie and Son of Brisbane and is indicative of many World War 1 structures that were erected throughout the state during and after the First World War.

As Coolangatta grew, development pressure saw the memorial moved to Queen Elizabeth St George’s holiday home, Marine Parade, Coolangatta, 2013. Park in 1933. It has since been relocated The Anzac Memorial in its original Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast. within the park a number of times. location at the intersection of Griffith and McLean Street, Coolangatta, c1930. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library.

20 21 Honouring those who served and remembering the fallen

World War 2 Memorials to those who served in World War A matching clock B was installed a few 2 were also constructed by the community to years later by the Rotary Club of Coolangatta- World War 2 brought with it a large presence honour local men and women. The Coolangatta Tweed Heads to commemorate the Golden of US Army personnel in Coolangatta. War Memorial in Goodwin Park J , officially Anniversary of the founding of Rotary 1905 Rest and recreation camps were established unveiled in 1948, was originally located at the – 1955. The clock was dedicated to the 508 in prime locations and the remnants of entrance to the Coolangatta Town Council local men and women of the twin towns those can still be seen today in some of Chambers in Griffith Street. The granite and who served in the Second World War. This the timber pavilions that dot the foreshore. sandstone monument, again the work of memorial was also located at the entrance The stone clad picnic shelter in Pat Fagan A. L. Petrie, was moved to Goodwin Park of the Coolangatta Town Council Chambers. Park on Greenmount Hill is a remnant of the when the council building was demolished. It was later moved to its current location in U.S. Greenmount Hill Camp No. 4. E Queen Elizabeth Park and positioned in such as way as to line up with its counterpart, the Coolangatta War Memorial, in Goodwin Park. Greenmount Hill Camp No. 4 picnic shelter, 2012. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast.

1968 aerial view of Greenmount Hill. The picnic shelter can be seen on top of the hill. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library.

Coolangatta War Memorial in its original The Coolangatta Memorial Clock in its location in front of the Coolangatta original location in front of the Gold Coast Town Council Chambers. City Council Chambers, Coolangatta, 1979. Image courtesy of Deslie Dolan. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library.

Family memorials to loved ones lost in the war were also common. The Powell Brothers trees 13 were planted along Garrick Street, near the old Coolangatta school, in honour of brothers John, Arthur, Ivan, Laurence and Lance Powell of Coolangatta, all of whom served in World War 2. Laurence and Lance both lost their lives while serving during the war. Powell brothers memorial trees, Garrick Street, 2012. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast.

22 23 Creating a destination

A place to stay, a place to play

When the trains O first began to arrive in Coolangatta in 1903 they brought with them people with a newly developed interest in surf bathing. The train station was located in Griffith Street and this provided a direct link for people from Brisbane and Ipswich to easily access the glorious Beach House guesthouse 1920. beaches Coolangatta had to offer. Sometimes up Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library. to 1000 people would come in a single day.

This early tourist market also sought affordable Looking towards Coolangatta as The guesthouses overlooked Marine Parade accommodation and other recreation opportunities. the train approaches, c1912. with clear views to the beach and, coupled Coolangatta obliged and over time, the establishment Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library. with beautification of the foreshore which of renowned guest houses and motels, coupled began in 1924 with the planting of Norfolk with tourist attractions, dance halls and hotels pines, Coolangatta took on the look and feel saw Coolangatta regarded as the place to be. of a seaside resort town. Planting continued into the 1930s and over 1000 Norfolk pines 7 were planted in Coolangatta to beautify the Greenmount Guesthouse D was established in foreshores and principal streets of the town. 1904 to cater for the early tourist market. A grand sprawling building on the top of Greenmount Hill, it was the first of many legendary guesthouses to Marine Parade, Coolangatta c1940, showing the line Marine Parade. Stella Maris, St Leonards, and guesthouses and Norfolk pines lining the street. the Beach House were some of the guesthouses Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library. at their peak in the 1920s. While accommodation was basic, the guesthouses were the social hubs Later, as the tourist market C changed, for holiday makers and competitions between Greenmount Guesthouse, 1916. motels became popular. The Ocean View guesthouses were commonly played out on the Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library. Motel on Marine Parade is a very retro beaches to the delight of the large crowds. reminder of how the accommodation scene looked in Coolangatta in the 1950s and 60s.

Stella Maris guesthouse 1914. Ocean View Motel, 2013. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast.

24 25 Creating a destination

Tourist attractions flourished to cater for the continual By 1970, the Tweed Shire Council and tourist market and Jazzland 12 was particularly the Gold Coast City Council, came to an popular. It was opened in 1933 and described as agreement in a desire to have a suitable one of the most modern dance halls in Queensland. landmark to serve the twin towns. The During World War 2, it became important as one of Captain Cook Memorial and Lighthouse was the places frequented by the American servicemen conceived with the final design produced on leave in Coolangatta. For this reason, Jazzland by Gold Coast City Council architect was reputedly known to thousands of young people L. F. Nyerges. Constructed in 1970 to throughout the Commonwealth. It was the era commemorate the 200th anniversary of of the big band and the introduction of American Captain Cook’s voyage along the east coast dance styles saw Coolangatta develop a freedom of Australia, the joint project was designed to and culture quite different to other parts of the Gold serve as a landmark and tourist attraction. 9 Coast. With the changing times, Jazzland closed Point Danger, 1969, prior to the construction of The addition of the laser beam light its doors in 1951 and became a Penney’s store. Crowd at Jazzland, 1950. the Captain Cook Memorial and Lighthouse. Image source unknown. as a navigation aid was a world first. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library. It was shown at the 1970 Electronics Trade Fair in Stockholm and more than thirty countries enquired about the new technology, effectively putting Coolangatta In the mid 1950s, Jack Evans and his wife built the on the map as a place of forward thinking Snapper Rocks Sea Baths 8 . It was one of the innovation. Unfortunately, the laser beam Gold Coast’s first purpose built tourist attractions. proved unsuccessful and a conventional The baths were so popular that Jack decided to electric lamp was later installed. incorporate a shark pool for public viewing. This was also popular and he surmised that porpoises would be popular with the public too. Jack obtained two bottle nosed dolphins who were accidently netted by a couple of local fishermen, and the famous Jack Evans Pet Porpoise Show began. In 1961, Jack moved the porpoise pool aquarium operations to the mouth of the Tweed River. Today, only remnants of the original attraction remain at Snapper Rocks.

Jack Evans’ sea baths, 1958. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library. Photgrapher Laurie Holmes.

Captain Cook Memorial and Lighthouse, 1982. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library.

26 27 The making of a community Historic places of worship St Peter’s Anglican Church L was built in 1937. The first church to be constructed in Coolangatta When Archbishop Wand laid the foundation was the Methodist Church M . Completed by stone in a ceremony attended by 200 people, he 1925, the building provided a place of worship and remarked that “he knew of few places where the a focus for events for the Methodist community. gifts of God had been showered so bountifully as The building now functions as the church hall. at Coolangatta.” The Courier-Mail, November 1937. The new church was to mark the beginning of great progress for the Coolangatta Anglican community.

St Peter’s Anglican Church, 2013. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast. Methodist Church hall, 2013. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast.

A school brought on by the flu!

When the Spanish Influenza epidemic arrived and New South Wales closed its border, St Augustine’s Church 11 opened on Sunday 26 children in Coolangatta who attended the December, 1926 with Father Leo Carlton as Parish school in Tweed Heads, found themselves Priest. Designed by J. P. Donoghue in the Italian without a place for education. The Coolangatta Romanesque style, it would change the skyline Council had been lobbying for a school since in Coolangatta and dominate the landscape for 1916 but it was the flu that finally forced years to come with its campanile of 110 feet (33 the Government to establishment the state metres). For the local Catholic community, the school 14 on the hill in Coolangatta. church became the focus for both social and spiritual life, and continues to serve that purpose today. The school officially opened in October 1920 and provided a place for education until 2006. The threat of demolition saw a strong Coolangatta State School, 1940. and dedicated community push to save the Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library. place and the State Government agreed to retain the land in public ownership for public use. The Gold Coast City Council took on St Augustine’s Church, 1930. trusteeship of the site and the building was Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library. restored to serve as a community facility.

28 29 The making of a community

The CWA still stands A watering hole by any other name…

The new club building for the Coolangatta- Named the Kirrabelle Hotel N , The Port O Call Tweed Heads branch of the County Women’s Hotel and now the Coolangatta Sands Hotel, Association was opened in July 1937 H . The this building has been an important part of the branch itself had been formed in 1928, a time Coolangatta streetscape since 1923. Historic when things were very different in Coolangatta hotels like this are a rarity on the Gold Coast and the association was particularly concerned and it continues to play its part in Coolangatta with “making happier the lot of the women history as the locals’ watering hole. and children on the land.” The presence of this historic building, dwarfed by modern development, is a reminder of the early Kirrabelle Hotel, c1949. Coolangatta community and its values. Coolangatta CWA building, Griffith Street, 2013. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast.

Historic places for recreation

The Coolangatta and Tweed Heads bowlers A played within the one club. As membership Lennons Kirra Hotel, now known as the Kirra Beach Hotel , was constructed in 1956 grew and the needs of members changed, by the Lennons Hotel Group. It was modern for its time and many families spent holidays the club separated and in 1949, the accommodated there. “One outstanding feature of the hotel was that on two occasions the sea washed into the bar.” Arch Nicholson, Now and Then, 2010, Gold Coast City Council. Coolangatta Bowls Club was formed. I

Coolangatta Bowls Club, c1951. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library.

Croquet was first played in Coolangatta in the gardens of interested residents before a club was formally established in 1949. The results of extensive community fundraising efforts were realised in 1954 with the opening of the club house K on land leased from the Department of Lands. For over sixty years, the croquet club has been a place of community recreation in Coolangatta. Coolangatta Croquet Club, 2013. Lennons Kirra Hotel, c1959. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library.

30 31

Coolangatta marks the southern end of the strip of surfing beaches that runs from the State border to Main Beach. It has the distinctive form of a town locked between the twin headlands of Kirra and Greenmount Hills, the mountains and the sea. It is a place of special character within the city because of its early settlement, role as a border town and railway terminus, its topography and the early development of a still thriving beach culture.

View from Kirra Hill of the crowd gathered on Coolangatta beach, c1935. Image courtesy of City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library.

Prepared by City of Gold Coast Office of City Architect and Heritage, June 2013.

Special thanks to Councillor Chris Robbins, City of Gold Coast Local Studies Library and John Oxley Library, and Sue Burnett from the Kirra Hill Heritage Group.