The mystery behind where the Gold Coast’s iconic meter maids went to

Despite their iconic status, it’s been a tough few decades for the golden girls of the city. So where are they now?

At long last Paradise has been polished … but one of our city’s golden icons seems to have lost its lustre.

While the official opening of the Paradise Centre’s new $40 million beachfront dining precinct couldn’t come a moment too soon, there’s still something missing from the surface of Surfers.

What happened to our Gold Coast Meter Maids?

Owner Roberta Aitchison announced back in 2020 that she created a fundraising campaign to get the golden girls back on the streets of the Glitter Strip, but sightings have been few and far between.

Meter Maids, Tiy Rusnik and Nicole Dolly. Picture: Jerad Williams

Despite their iconic status, it’s been a tough few decades for the girls (and sometimes guys) in skimpy swimwear.

A Gold Coast institution since 1965, the maids were snubbed for a role at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, with Mayor Tom Tate suggesting the city was now too sophisticated.

Ms Aitchison accused council officers of ‘harassing’ the maids on the street and threatening them with fines for illegal touting.

She even helped promote a ‘meter maid-friendly’ mayoral candidate, Brett Lambert, who stood unsuccessfully against Mr Tate at the March 2020 council election.

She’s tried to boost the cash-strapped business with ill-fated ventures including a meter maid bar in Surfers Paradise, a meter maid beach food delivery service and even a meter man concept, which saw buff male models strutting the streets in tight gold shorts.

And yet still, the legend lives on.

Ms Aitchison and the maids have been filming recently with Australian Idol producers, as well as international shows based in Japan and Germany.

This picture taken on April 7, 2018 shows meter maids patrolling at Surfers Paradise on Gold Coast. Photo by Alastair Himmer.

“We do private functions, Christmas parties, birthday parties and openings, we’re just not back on the streets yet,” she says.

“Over Covid I just had to let it all relax, we couldn’t do too much - we weren’t going to walk around wearing masks.

“I’m in talks with a few sponsors right now, we need that since we’re not allowed to sell merchandise on the street or take donations for photos.

“I’m also considering opening a souvenir store, then we don’t need the donations.

“The fact is no matter what we do or how long has passed, people link the Gold Coast and meter maids … they always have and they always will. That’s why we’re asked to film so much.”

In fact, just a few weeks ago, international hit show RuPaul’s Drag Race Australia featured two drag queen contestants donning the gold lame in tribute to the Coast.

However, while Ms Aitchison says this proves her point, she’d prefer not to bring drag queens into the business.

“Really, they should have asked me permission because we are trademarked.

“It does show we’re still on people’s minds. But I don’t think drag queens are where we’ll be heading … I prefer to be a family-oriented brand.”

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While it may seem a change in direction from the days of the early 90s, when Ms Aitchison posed in Penthouse Magazine as part of a controversial Meter Maids spread, she says it’s still part of the same tactic of doing whatever it takes to keep the brand alive.

“Back then we were being shunned because we were sponsored by Timeshare, so when Penthouse offered us each $11,000 … well, that was good money back then,” she says.

“I was 34 then but it came up quite all right. We had limousines, we were leaning topless out of helicopters flying over the Coast and it was spread across three issues. The Surfers Paradise Chamber of Commerce wasn’t too happy but Shep (then-president and perennial mayoral candidate Brian Shepard) thought it was great. I don’t regret it at all.”

At 67, it’s not an option she’s prepared to consider anymore … but Ms Aitchison has her eyes on an even bigger sponsor.

As a fan of Donald Trump, she’d love to see the former US president back her business.

“I can’t imagine that would happen, but you have to dream.

“I’m determined to get the girls back out there - there’s still an appetite, especially from tourists, to see us.

“No matter what, my goal is to Make Meter Maids Great Again.”

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