Gold Coast Music Town Hall to shake up night life and spark parking changes
The Gold Coast’s ambitious new $40m entertainment venue promises to breathe new life into western Surfers Paradise, despite looming parking headaches for locals.
Work will begin early next year on the Gold Coast Civic and Music Hall in what is predicted to be a “game changer” for the struggling downtown Surfers Paradise night economy.
But building the world class music venue west of the beach and nightclub precinct will create short-term parking changes.
Construction crews will be forced, for safety reasons, to close down sections of the tourism heart’s biggest public car park just a walk from Cavill Mall.
The $40m council project is expected to be ticked off by councillors once they have been shown the detailed design work on how the Civic and Music Hall will take shape on the Surfers Paradise Transit Centre site adjoining the Bruce Bishop car park.
Images released by the City show the live music venue on the Transit Centre site will sit atop several levels of carparking used by the car park.
A City spokesman said: “Detailed design for the Gold Coast Civic and Music Hall is under way and once approved the City will share the design with the community.”
“Subject to approval, construction is due to begin early 2026 with expected completion in late 2027, ready for an early 2028 opening.”
The City has outlined the following site changes which would need to occur:
• Partial demolition and reconstruction of the Transit Centre building
• Repair works to the five-level basement carpark along with upgrades to power, water, sewer and telecommunications. That section must be closed for safety reasons.
• There will be fencing, signage and detours for pedestrians and vehicles.
• The two-level above-ground section of the carpark will remain open during construction, with two-way street access off Beach Rd continuing.
A City update said: “We will work with nearby businesses and residents to manage construction impacts. The underground section of Bruce Bishop Carpark will be closed for repairs during construction.”
However, the above ground section of carpark will remain open to motorists.
Apart from the upgraded five-level car park, the town hall itself will boast a mid-sized auditorium with a capacity of up to 2500 people.
Early designs include a flexible floor plan with multiple arrangements including banquet, cabaret and town hall, along with a wraparound mezzanine balcony.
The venue will include a distinctive entrance lobby off Beach Rd, and an outdoor garden along with food and beverage offerings.
Councillor Darren Taylor said he was confident the detailed design and planning would be completed by early next year to allow construction to start.
“So I think that’ll be a game changer for what I call the western part of Surfers Paradise. I think that will activate that southern end (off Cavill Ave),” he said.
“Think of where the Q1 is pulling right through to Cavell Ave. It’s always been an area that’s struggled. Obviously, it will pull through crowds to the city.
“The town hall live music stadium will be a major component for change to that area.”
Mr Taylor said it was a key part of the $100m Surfers Paradise Revitalisation project which would see upgrades to the mall.
“I think previously we’ve never done it right. The foreshore has been magnificent,” he said.
“I know the mall has always never had the investment it should get so that we shouldn’t be coming back every 10 years.
“It should be a 30-year program that we’re not visiting for 30 years.”
Meanwhile, the City has closed off to traffic a 250m section of The Esplanade fronting Surfers Paradise beach, converting it into an event space to attract tourists and residents.
The three-month trial called ‘The People’s Esplanade Pop-Up’ features a series of events and placemaking features to showcase how the space could function as an extension of Cavill Mall.
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