Australia Day Gold Coast riots 2009: Disgust at drunken teenagers

Drunken bravado and nationalistic fervour went hand-in-hand as teenagers rioted, ruining Australia Day celebrations and sparking a full-scale police response.

A violent riot broke out at Australia Day celebrations on the beachfront at Burleigh Heads in scenes which shocked Gold Coast civic leaders and business owners.

Next week’s celebrations across the city mark 15 years since that infamous day which made national headlines and saw a major change to future celebrations.

A decade and a half on, the scenes witnessed during the riots have yet to be repeated, with police keen to avoid another day like the infamous event, which was compared at the time to the Cronulla race riots of 2005.

Teenager riot during Australia Day celebrations at Burleigh Heads

It was January 26, 2009 and Gold Coasters awoke ready to celebrate Australia’s national day. From the traditional barbecue on the beach to fun in the park, the morning shaped up as a day to remember, with picture-perfect sunny weather.

But things turned ugly and violent as the day went on and public drinking in the heat stoked the embers of what became a full-blown riot.

Burleigh descended into chaos as nearly 1000 teenagers went on a rampage, fighting police and damaging property.

Teenager riot during Australia Day celebrations at Burleigh Heads

Chanting “Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi”, the violent crowd swamped police at the scene and damaged cars along the foreshore.

The dog squad and public response teams were called and police from across the Coast descended on the normally quiet suburb to break up the disturbance which had begun at 3.30pm.

It was believed the riot began with a fight near the Burleigh Heads-Mowbray Park Surf Life Saving Club.

But Gold Coast police district superintendent Jim Keogh strongly denied rumours which swept the riot scene that the incident had been sparked by high school gangs who had called in other members by SMS message.

Teenager riot during Australia Day celebrations at Burleigh Heads

“No, it was one fellow’s act of bravado where he has yelled out ‘I wanna go and hit someone’,” he said.

‘‘So he has run across the road, swung a punch at somebody and the rest followed.”

Traffic was disrupted during the event, as rioters ran across multiple lanes of traffic on the Gold Coast Hwy.

‘‘The cops are like communists or something. We’re not even allowed to say ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi,” one rioter told the Bulletin.

‘‘(Expletive) them, it’s Australia Day and it’s going on.”

Teenager riot during Australia Day celebrations at Burleigh Heads

Members of Burleigh Bowls Club also faced off against the teens

“A bunch of guys jumped the fence where there were some bowlers and started acting up,’’ said club bar manager Garry Potts

“It nearly got to physical contact and these men were in their 60s and 70s.

“The boys who were trying to start them up were between 17 and 20 years of age and it almost came to blows, but then the boys just gave a bit more cheek and ran way.”

In the aftermath of the riots, business and political leaders were asking questions of how the shameful event had been able to occur.

Teenager riot during Australia Day celebrations at Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Surf Club openly suggested it would not even open on Australia Day 2010 after losing significant revenue because of the event.

Discussions continued throughout 2009 on how to prevent a repeat of that year’s ugly scenes the following year.

Teenager riot during Australia Day celebrations at Burleigh Heads

Ahead of that Australia Day, Gold Coast policed announced a major crackdown, with a significant increase in resources to keep the Burleigh foreshore peaceful.

Mounted police and the dog squad made a return while Burleigh Heads SLSC closed its downstairs sports bar and did not sell takeaway alcohol.

The 2010 Australia Day celebrations were deemed a major success with just a handful of incidents across the Gold Coast’s packed beaches.