‘Leave it there’: Locals react to the demolition of beloved Elephant Rock Cafe

Plans to demolish one of the city’s oldest and most adored beachfront cafes have divided opinion for residents on the southern Gold Coast.

Plans to demolish one of the city’s oldest and most adored beachfront cafes have divided opinion for residents on the southern Gold Coast. Currumbin’s Elephant Rock Cafe, designed by award-winning architect Philip Follent, will be redeveloped into an apartment block with a ground level shop in the coming months.

Currumbin local Sean Tate said he would visit the cafe all the time as a young man and was disappointed to see the once lively establishment being “ripped down”.

“They should leave it there,” Mr Tate said.

The former Palm Beach resident said he and his wife planned to leave the Gold Coast, driven north by the increase in construction and “young” residents moving in.

“They (the council) just rip everything down,” Mr Tate said.

Locals speak up about about the planned redevelopment of the Elephant Rock Cafe. Sean Tate in front of the site. Picture Glenn Hampson

Tugun resident Mimi Kobezda said she had no problem with the redevelopment of the cafe, and disagreed it should be referred to as a heritage site following calls to boost laws earlier this week.

“We used to go there,” she said.“It has been sitting vacant since Covid … people are being a bit OTT (over the top) about it.”

Ms Kobezda said the installation of the new apartments was “fine” and believes the block will not detract from the Currumbin beachfront.

Locals speak up about about the planned redevelopment of the Elephant Rock Cafe. Mimi Kobezda. . Picture Glenn Hampson

“They are going to do what they are going to do,” she said.

Jake Shaw of Burleigh Heads was walking past the cafe now blocked off with scaffolding, as he looked upwards and pointed towards the veranda saying “it would’ve been a great spot to have a beer.”

“It would be great for entertainment there … they could’ve done so much with that view,” he said.

“It’s a shame.”

Locals speak up about about the planned redevelopment of the Elephant Rock Cafe. Jake Shaw. Picture Glenn Hampson

The owner of Salon de Sel hair salon, which sits next door to the former cafe on Currumbin Beach, said the community was sad to lose a venue that had stood on the shore for over thirty years.

“We sadly saw it coming,” Peta Hayes said.

“It was an iconic restaurant for years, everybody noticed it and everybody loved Elephant Rock.”

Peta and salon clients said their children were employed at the venue over the years, in what was a prime location for a restaurant.

“All the youngies worked there … we loved the space,” she said.

Peta said although locals “would’ve loved to have the restaurant back,” she understood the need for the new development.

The street frontage for a new building planned to replace the Elephant Rock Cafe at Currumbin.

“It’s progression,” she said.

The Bulletin understands work has begun on gutting the cafe’s interior after the site, which was occupied by the cafe for over 60 years, was sold.

This comes as Palm Beach Elanora Community Group convener Lancia Jordana called on the City of Gold Coast to protect sites of community significance on a register.

“This is a venue that has hosted wedding receptions, marriage proposals, birthday parties, anniversaries and school reunions and holds a special affection within our community,” Ms Jordana said.

“When it closed a few years ago during Covid, many residents expected it would reopen.”

Historic cafe to be demolished

One of the city’s oldest and most loved beachfront cafes is to be demolished, sparking a backlash from residents calling on the City to boost heritage laws.

Plans lodged with council show Currumbin’s Elephant Rock Cafe, designed by award-winning architect Philip Follent, is to be redeveloped into an apartment block with a ground level shop.

Palm Beach Elanora Community Group convener Lancia Jordana called on the City of Gold Coast to protect sites of community significance on a register.

“This is a venue that has hosted wedding receptions, marriage proposals, birthday parties,

anniversaries and school reunions and holds a special affection within our community,” Ms Jordana said.

“When it closed a few years ago during Covid, many residents expected it would

reopen, but they are shocked that there was no warning of its demolition.”

The beachfront Elephant Rock Café at Currumbin. Photo: Supplied.

The Bulletin understands work has begun on gutting the cafe’s interior after the site was sold.

The Tugun Progress Association has joined the campaign by Palm Beach-Elanora group.

Residents on Facebook recalled the Currumbin cafe as making the best hamburgers and egg burgers, and selling malted milks where lifesavers would arrive for their “early morning fix”.

The cafe has operated in different forms on the same site for over 60 years with the current award-winning design by former Queensland Government Architect Philip Follent in 1989.

“If the Gold Coast is truly going to grow into a dynamic mature city, it should follow the lead of the great cities of the world like Paris, London and Sydney that value and protect their history and culture,” Ms Jordana said.

The street frontage for a new building planned to replace the Elephant Rock Cafe at Currumbin.

“This can definitely occur alongside progress and development and we ask developers to take into account and reflect the heritage of sites and neighbourhoods when designing new

buildings. This will add further value to the area.”

Plans provided to council seek a material change of use for dwellings and a shop.

A technical report provided on behalf of the owner said the existing 502sqm site was occupied by a mixed use development which included a food and drink outlet tenancy and a low-density residential dwelling.

The new plans propose to create a mixed-use development which includes two two-bedroom units, one three-bedroom unit and a shop on the site.

New plans show designs for a building to replace the Elephant Rock Cafe at Currumbin.

A report lodged on behalf on owners said the current landowner-applicant bought the site with the intention to redevelop it noting it had “fallen into a state of disrepair and was in need of renewal”.

“Two buildings are present on the site being a two-bedroom dwelling at the rear of the site and the café building at the road frontage,” the report said.

“As council may be aware, the existing cafe building was designed by Philip Folent — the initial design intent was lost in construction and subsequent renovations meaning the current building does not display the originally envisaged form.”

Currumbin's Elephant Rock Cafe. Photo supplied.

The proposed redevelopment provided the opportunity to create a landmark building that contributes positively to the character and amenity of the locality, the report said.

“And this is the intent of the applicant for this project — to create a high quality, visually appealing development that interacts well with all adjoining properties and spaces and will be a positive contribution to Pacific Parade,”the report added.

A spokesperson for the applicant said: “The proposed development involves a new building with a high standard of architectural and landscape design that responds well to the site constraints and will contribute positively to the character and amenity of the locality.

“The design takes cues from the original design intent for the site and will present well to the adjoining pedestrian linkage to Woodgee Street.

“The development does incorporate a commercial space on the ground floor to activate the road frontage and at this stage it is anticipated that this space will house a shop or an art gallery which will tie in with the Swell Sculpture Festival.”

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