Gold Coast in 2019 celebrates its 60th anniversary with big party and special surprise

Happy birthday Gold Coast: Get ready to blow out the candles because this year marks the 60th anniversary of the city’s name and you’re invited to party. There’s a big surprise planned.

WELCOME to 2019, the year the Gold Coast parties.

The city - previously known as South Coast - will celebrate 60 years since it was renamed Gold Coast in an inspiring move.

It originally picked up ‘Gold Coast’ as a nickname on the back of soaring property prices.

Mayor Tom Tate, who will also celebrate his 60th birthday this year, yesterday revealed a giant party would be held for the city’s milestone.

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South Coast’s name was changed to the Gold Coast in 1959 during the age of the 'Hokey Pokey' on Greenmount Beach. Picture: John Sullivan.

Cr Tate also confirmed he was working on a “surprise” including a performance by a major artist to mark the occasion.

“We have come a long way since the Gold Coast’s name was gazetted and this year the pride of this city will be strong as we come together to celebrate,” he said.

“This will be a major event and it should be one of the biggest parties we have ever had. We deserve it,” he said.

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Mayor Tom Tate and wife Ruth are looking forward to the Gold Coast’s birthday. Picture Glenn Hampson

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“There is going to be a party - the Gold Coast’s lifestyle is an outdoor one and we will be doing something special to celebrate.”

It is expected to be held at either the Home of the Arts (HOTA) amphitheatre at Bundall or at the Broadwater Parklands in Southport.

While initially seen as a pejorative, the area’s residents quickly adopted the name Gold Coast as their own. The city increasingly became known by its nickname, with the South Coast Town Council adopting it in October 1958.

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A 1950s postcard showing the Gold Coast from Southport looking south to Nobby Beach. Supplied photo.

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The city name was officially changed to the Gold Coast in May 1959 with the State Government of the day gazetting it, beginning a new era for the nation’s fastest-growing city.

Tourism leaders say they are already planning to capitalise on the milestone anniversary.

Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan said the celebrations would also provoke thought of how to continue revitalising what the city has to offer.

The Chevron Hotel, Surfers Paradise. Supplied photo.

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“We have come a long way from sandy roads to being Australia’s sixth largest city,” he said.

“The Gold Coast is now Australia’s holiday playground and this year will be one to look at how far we have come but also look ahead to setting up the next 60 years.

“Tourism will be a mainstay but we must focus on the vision of where we want to be and what further strings we can add to our bow as we grow.”

Central Surfers Paradise in the 1950s.

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Longtime Gold Coaster and property kingpin Max Christmas, who saw the city transform from those booming days in the 1950s to the present day, said the renaming had proven to be a masterstroke for promoting it.

“It gave us a global identification and set the course for how people know us - a place with beaches and water.

“We are golden in our nature and it just added to the wonderful assets we already have.

“There were a few names considered in those early days including Pacific City but ultimately every part of the Gold Coast is now blessed with this wonderful title.”