Gold Coast History: 55 years since Surfers Paradise International Raceway was built
Surfers Paradise International Raceway was once considered one of the Gold Coast’s greatest attractions. Now 55 years after the first sod was turned, check out it’s incredible story. FULL GALLERY.
History
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NEARLY 30 years before the inaugural 1991 Indy Carnival, the Gold Coast discovered its need for speed at a track on the Nerang River.
The ground was laid for the Surfers Paradise International Raceway on the banks of the Nerang River in 1957 when colourful entrepreneur Keith Williams bought a Carrara dairy farm to host his famed waterski show.
But there was no signs of activity until 1964 when Williams began to develop the land and build his raceway.
This decision, 55 years ago this year, paved the way for the Gold Coast to become a motorsports Mecca.
The first drag race was held on April 10, 1966 over that year’s Easter long weekend, while the first race meet at the 3.2km track was held weeks later on May 22, 1966.
Famed driver Sir Jack Brabham was a frequent competitor on the track in its early years, which often featured 12-hour endurance races before six-hour events became commonplace by the end of the 1960s.
Sir Jack praised the raceway, telling the Bulletin prior to his death that he had fond memories.
“Carrara was good for Australian motorsports and was a big part of the Australian scene in the early days,” he said.
“It was such a good circuit and it’s a pity it had to be demolished.”
Other drivers who left their mark included Jim Clark and Chris Amon.
The circuit was the one-time host of the Australian Grand Prix in 1975.
Mr Williams told the Gold Coast Bulletin in a 2009 interview he spent more than $50,000 to buy the site.
“It was just a cow paddock when I first saw it and it was totally empty,” he said two years before his 2011 death.
“At one point Jackie Stewart (F1 legend The Flying Scot) came out here and raced on the track and we have been friends ever since and still catch up each year.
“It was a great track and anyone who understood motor racing thought it was the best in Australia.”
However it was not without its struggles.
In 1976 a major race meet had to be cancelled after flooding caused by a heavy downpour left the track under more than 1m of water.
Mr Williams later took the raceway concept across Australia before selling the Carrara complex in 1984.
It closed in 1987 and eventually became home to a Tiger Moth joy ride and helicopter charter business, as well as a go-kart track.
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Just four years later the first Indy cars raced in the heart of Surfers Paradise, leaving fond memories of the old Carrara course.
It was eventually demolished in 2001 to make way for the redevelopment of the land, which is now occupied by the Emerald Lakes residential estate.
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