Sir Bruce Small: Former Gold Coast mayor posthumously declared a Queensland great

A Gold Coast mayor has been declared one of Queensland’s most important figures for his key role in making the Glitter Strip what it is today.

Sir Bruce Small at his office in the 1970s.

Former mayor Sir Bruce Small has been honoured for his role in shaping the state and its history more than 44 years after his death.

The late Sir Bruce, who died of cancer in 1980, was named a Queensland great by Premier Steven Miles in a ceremony on Thursday to mark the state’s 165th birthday.

He received the honour in recognition of his civic, tourism, development and philanthropic works.

The late Sir Bruce Small honoured as a Queensland Great. Pictured is Dr Anne Small and Sir Bruce's official biographer Rachel Syers. Picture: Luke Sorenson.

A bronze plaque will be installed in Brisbane’s Roma St Parklands.

It has been welcomed by his granddaughter, Dr Anne Small.

“This award represents recognition by Queensland and hopefully the rest of Australia of all the work Sir Bruce did to develop and celebrate Surfers Paradise,” she said.

Sir Bruce Small.

“Hopefully people will realise how far they can go with their own endeavours, even if they come from a poor start like Sir Bruce did when his family had to sometimes pray for food to land on the table to feed the children.

“His story of coming from humble beginnings to becoming one of Australia’s greatest success stories is still relevant today.”