Conrad Jupiters: Inside the chaotic opening of the Gold Coast's first casino in 1985
From turning away guests in gym shoes to emergency bridge closures, the chaotic opening of the Gold Coast's first casino four decades ago marked a defining moment for the city.
It took nearly 30 years for the Gold Coast to get its own casino.
The opening of what was then known as Conrad Jupiters Casino 40 years ago this week was a landmark moment in the history of the Gold Coast.
The concept of a Gold Coast casino was first proposed in 1957 but various concepts were shot down over the intervening years until the Bjelke-Petersen government approved the $186 million development in the early 1980s.
History was made on the night of November 20, 1985, when Local Government Minister Russ Hinze dropped a 20c coin into a slot machine and came up a winner.
Mr Hinze drew 18 on the blackjack machine, which busted on 25, giving the minister a prize of 40c.
More than 100 “fashionably dressed” people attended the opening gala days before the casino opened to the public at 10am on Saturday, November 23.
About 10,000 people entered the casino that day, far beyond the expectations of operators.
Within 11 hours of opening, they were forced to shut the two bridges leading into the casino island because of the crowd numbers.
Among the staff who were there on opening day was Max Murrell, who had previously managed the caravan park the casino was built on, as well as concierge Victor Morris.
Casino chairman Sir Roderick Proctor officially declared the building open by cutting a crimson ribbon stretched between two massive gold entrance pillars.
First through the door was Roy Siffler who was seen by media sprinting on to the betting floor, eager to place an early and lucky punt.
However, despite it being opening day, casino bosses took no chances and turned away customers who were not dressed properly for the occasion.
Broadbeach resident Mervin Matheson was among those turned away in the opening minutes based on his “walk shorts” and long socks which he was told were inappropriate, while his son was barred for wearing gym shoes.
And it wasn’t just the dress code that had guests concerned – the “video game machines”, 750 digital poker machines, were taken offline because they were “slightly off balance and we wouldn’t want a $250,000 jackpot to go off in the first two minutes”, according to Mr Proctor.
Among those who were delighted by the occasion was Mermaid Waters resident Billie Williams who was excited by the poker machines.
“Never mind, it’s a good idea to have a look and feel the atmosphere before you start to play,’’ she said.
“We might try some other game and before the end of the day you never know what might happen.’’
More than 3500 guests tested out the machines in the first three days because traditional poker machines were not yet allowed.
But it wasn’t just the casino that opened its door – the complex’s hotel also came online several months before the official Hilton accommodation was scheduled to open.
More than 400 guests, some of whom had booked as far back as early 1984, arrived to check in and see the sights of what was at the time the Gold Coast’s biggest hotel.
The casino became the epicentre of the Gold Coast’s party and entertainment scene through the late 1980s and early 1990s, with a long line of big-name guests choosing to stay in its suites.
The Conrad name was finally done away with in 2010 when the naming rights deal ran out and it was simply rebadged as Jupiters Casino.
It was rebadged as The Star in 2017.
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