The Gold Coast is no stranger to property booms – in fact, inflated real estate prices were how the city got its name back in 1953. But behind our rapidly changing skyline, there are still hints of the ‘old Gold Coast’. You just need to know where to look.
The Rainbow Bay Surf Lifesaving Club
‘From where you’d rather be’ – an ad campaign that’s become synonymous with one of the southern Gold Coast’s most iconic venues. The Rainbow Bay SLSC was established on the coast’s only northern-facing beach back in 1962, to support the growing population of locals and holidaymakers. Since then, it’s become famous for two things – its unbeatable view, and the declarative slogan that reminds you you’re in paradise.
The Wallaby Hotel, Mudgeeraba
For almost 150 years, the Wallaby Hotel has served as a meeting place and watering hole for visitors from all over. Beginning as the Exchange Hotel, the venue has been lovingly maintained by changing hands over the years, most recently undergoing a $2.3 million renovation in 2020. But don’t worry – it’s retained its rustic charm, and now the walls (literally) tell the stories of its rich history.
Gold Coast Historical Society and Museum, Surfers Paradise
In a ramshackle cottage in suburban Surfers Paradise, generations of Gold Coast history – from our First Peoples to present day – await you. The volunteer-run historical museum lets us step back in time, with exhibitions covering everything from the region’s pioneering era to the iconic Meter Maids.
Southport Town Hall
Officially opened in 1935 after a year and a half of construction, Southport’s former Town Hall is a rare example of genuine Art Deco architecture on the Gold Coast (see also: the nearby Cecil Hotel!). In 1997, a large-scale conservation project undertaken by the Southport council revealed many of the original features of the building, including the lettering on the façade.
The Pink Hotel, Coolangatta
It’s known as one of the Gold Coast’s most character-filled accommodation options, but did you know the Pink Hotel was first known as the Ocean View Motor Inn? Built in 1963, the Ocean View opened just in time for a visit from the Queen – and unsurprisingly, it was fully booked. It was reborn as the Pink Hotel in 2018, and officially added to the Gold Coast’s local heritage register in December 2025.
Kinkabool, Surfers Paradise
Fun fact: You’ve probably driven past one of the most significant buildings on the Gold Coast, and you didn’t even know it. Situated on Hanlan Street, Kinkabool is the high-rise that started it all. The ten-storey apartment block was developed in 1960, marking the beginning of the skyline we know so well today.
Focus, Surfers Paradise
If you’re looking for other iconic apartment buildings around Surfers Paradise, find Focus. The thirty-plus-storey circular tower was completed in 1976 and was twice the height of neighbouring buildings at the time – in fact, the helipad on the roof once provided the highest vantage point in Surfers. The building’s unique shape offers every unit a 270-degree view of the Gold Coast.
Southport Bathing Pavilion
Designed by Hall & Phillips – the same architects behind the Southport Town Hall – the Southport Bathing Pavilion was built in 1934 to satisfy the growing popularity of Broadwater swimming. The Spanish Mission-style structure once provided a place for swimmers to change and shower. In the decades since, it has served as everything from a storage facility to a home for the Southport Amateur Fishing Club.
Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Burleigh Heads
If we’re talking about the old Gold Coast, we need to go back to the very beginning. Evidence suggests that Aboriginal people inhabited this region for 23,000 years before European settlement, and you can walk through this rich history at Jellurgal, the Gold Coast’s only dedicated Aboriginal cultural centre.
