Looking back on the Gold Coast of the 70s and 80s

THERE is a captivating Facebook page called “I grew up on the Gold Coast in the 70s and 80s and listened to 4GG” where people post pictures and stories about the good old days.

Gold Coast History: Grundy's waterslide Surfers Paradise. Supplied photo.

THERE is a captivating Facebook page called “I grew up on the Gold Coast in the 70s and 80s and listened to 4GG” where people post pictures and stories about the good old days.

I have lost hours flicking through the photos and reading the comments from people who, like me, look back in a haze of wistful nostalgia at the Gold Coast of old.

Legendary local photographer Richard ‘Tommy’ Campion regularly contributes pics from his colossal archive — which should be heritage listed — adding backstories to the historic events they depict as well as less notable snapshots of the past.

Old friends and workmates catch up with each other to reminisce about long-gone nightclubs and restaurants and once well-known characters no longer around.

Magic Mountain, its castle and chairlift is a favourite subject, as is the old caravan park where the casino is now and Melbas and the Playroom and going out before photo identification was mandatory.

Oh how we scoffed at the ‘Brisos’ coming down for the then fledgling Schoolies celebration, watching them pass by the Broadie as we smugly enjoyed a Sunday ‘sesh’.

Because Gold Coast teenagers had been living like schoolies every weekend since we were 16.

Sometimes 15. But don’t tell my mum.

Yep, we sure did have some fun.

Many of the members of the Facebook group, some of whom no longer live here, now look upon on the Gold Coast with disappointment, yearning for the days before it became a major city and international tourist destination.

Surfers Paradise in 1988.

I love the Gold Coast then and now but can understand their dismay at some of the changes and the cost — both financial and social — locals have had to pay for the unrestricted development others have made a fortune from.

Sure, we take advantage of the huge shopping centres and the weekend and late night trading we now enjoy, as well as the great restaurants and cafes popping up everywhere.

But I still miss just a little bit the calm that descended on Broadbeach once Woolies closed at noon on Saturday and all we had to worry about was catching up with friends or going to the beach.

In those days the only places you could eat in what is now the 24/7 Broadbeach entertainment hub were the Rickshaw Inn and the fish and chip shop on Albert Avenue.

I also miss the free car parking, having fewer rules and regulations and a less greedy council keeping its nose out of everyone’s business.

Royal Copenhagen Ice Cream store in the Paradise Centre in Cavill Mall, Surfers Paradise in January, 1985. Photo: the Harding family

But that’s for another column altogether.

I am well aware that nostalgia and viewing the past through my new rose-coloured glasses are signs I am getting older.

Just as sneering at the music of today, the stupid fashion the young people are wearing and worrying about how society is going down the toilet are also traits previous ageing generations have shared.

But despite the unimaginable technological advances, the smartphones and social media — which I confess I am also addicted to — I am pretty sure my generation might be partly right when we claim we had it better back in our day.

Which sure is something coming from someone who once wore leg warmers.

Because in all the times I went out at night in Surfers Paradise, lazed on the beach during the day and enjoyed a relatively simple, suburban lifestyle, I saw very few fights, never stepped on a syringe and didn’t have to worry about ice-crazed druggies smashing their way into my home.

Unfortunately I can’t say the same about the bikie menace because I have a distinct memory of the Finks storming into the Paradise Room in Surfers one night back in the early eighties, smacking everyone in the head as we all rushed out the door in terror.

Again, don’t tell my mum.

Binge drinking to us was too much lime cordial on a hot day even when happy hours were still legal and you could get $1 Blue Lagoons before 9pm.

Nightclubs closed at 3am and everyone stopped for a nourishing hotdog before going home without pissing everywhere or bashing a cop.

Yep, I’ve ditched my Wayfarers for those rose-coloured glasses and I’m keeping them.