Homelessness: David ‘Princess’ Buncombe shares story on two decades on Glitter Strip

“Princess” has been a fixture on the streets of Surfers Paradise for two decades. Now he says things are getting worse for one particularly vulnerable group.

“PRINCESS” is a fixture on the streets of Surfers Paradise after being homeless on and off for two decades.

David Buncombe, a bikini and tutu wearing cross-dresser who prefers to be called “Princess”, is one of the most recognisable among those who spend each night sleeping rough across the city.

The Bulletin chatted to Princess yesterday while he was curled up on a blanket in an empty shop doorfront in the heart of the tourism hub on Cavill Ave with his suitcase and four bags.

Q AND A WITH DAVID ‘PRINCESS’ BUNCOMBE

David Buncombe, aka Princess, in Surfers Paradise, talking to the Gold Coast Bulletin about living on the streets. Picture: Jerad Williams

David Buncombe, aka Princess, in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Jerad Williams

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He said within the past year he had noticed “a lot more” homeless youths and adults — and police and security guards tended to leave them alone now.

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“Up until about 12 months ago, police were always moving people for sleeping in doorways and begging in front of shops,” he said.

“Now maybe just the odd police officer will move you along. It’s like they allow it.”

Princess, 59, said was he kicked out of his Glitter Strip accommodation about nine months ago for “inappropriately dressing” and said he had given up trying to find a home again.

He believed he was likely to live the rest of his life on the streets.

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A homeless person sleeps on a bench in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Jerad Williams

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Asked if he was worried about getting older and his health deteriorating, he said: “I don’t think about that.”

Princess, who said he lived on a pension he received for an illness, didn’t blame inadequate funding from the State Government or lack of support from council for his plight.

When he was 40, he said he gave up his job at a party hire business in Tamworth and work on a farm to live on the Gold Coast.

Princess said others were likely to have a similar story.

Shopping trolleys in Southport. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Half of them would tell you they want to live on the street. They have the extra money to buy cigarettes and alcohol, instead of accommodation.”

But he had tears in his eyes when asked if life on the streets was tough.

“No. I mean, it’s OK. I don’t really have any hassles,” he said before telling of two recent incidents where he claimed to have been dragged across cement and being kicked.

The Bulletin also spoke to a middle-aged woman who was sleeping on a bench underneath the iconic Surfers Paradise beachfront sign.

Parts of her body were covered in large scabs and she needed to cover herself with stockings to stop flies from causing further infection.

Although everything she owned was in a trolley, she wouldn’t acknowledge she was homeless.