Hard Rock Cafe Surfers Paradise: Giant guitar’s fate revealed after removal from Paradise Centre

Hopes of saving the famous Hard Rock Cafe guitar and relocating it have been dashed, leaving Gold Coast residents devastated at the loss of more city history.

HOPES of saving the famous Hard Rock Cafe guitar and relocating it have been dashed.

The 17m landmark, which stood over Surfers Paradise for nearly 27 years, was removed earlier this month to make way for the redevelopment of the eatery’s former location.

It was initially believed the guitar had been placed in storage ahead of the Hard Rock Cafe relocating to another space in Surfers Paradise.

However, it has been revealed that the structure was instead taken to a wreckers yard in Loganholme where it will be scrapped. Gold Coasters took to social media to express their disappointment.

The guitar was recently removed. Photo by Richard Gosling

“It should have been saved. So much history wasted,” wrote Kaye Taylor.

Ann-Kristine Gatfield wrote: “What a waste. Surely Australia has room for a giant guitar for goodness sake!!”

The owner of popular live music venue Vinnies received hundreds of signatures on a petition to become the new home for the guitar.

Glenn Stewart, the Southport business’ owner said: “We’ll find room somewhere.”

The guitar in its heyday

The guitar following its destruction in 2004.

The Surfers Paradise Hard Rock Cafe closed nearly a year ago, after its 26th anniversary, after a rental dispute between the restaurant’s international arm and management of the Paradise Centre shopping complex came to a head, leaving more than 30 people out of work.

At the time, Hard Rock bosses said they were looking at a new location within Surfers Paradise.

The Bulletin was told in late 2022 that a deal was close to being signed.

The Surfers Paradise Hard Rock Cafe was struck by disaster on November 11, 2004 when the giant guitar burst into flames and was badly damaged.

Flames leapt 10m into the air as a large crowd of tourists gathered to watch the rock ‘n’ roll inferno, understood to have been caused by an electrical fault.

The sign was finally repaired by early 2006 just in time for the restaurant’s 10th anniversary.