Sunday Times UK article reveals what British people think of Gold Coast

‘Posh hoods’ and ‘ugly’ suburbs – a major UK publication has revealed the sometimes surprising way British people view the Gold Coast. Here’s what they said.

BRITONS eyeing a move to the Gold Coast have been told that property remains cheap in the city, but their “beautiful manners” may irritate the locals and “the English are far funnier than Aussies”.

A feature published in The Sunday Times, a highly respected newspaper with a circulation of about 700,000, listed “posh hoods” Burleigh, Palm Beach and Currumbin as “desirable coastal neighbourhoods” while advising that family homes can still be found in suburbs like Ashmore, Mermaid Waters, Elanora and Helensvale for $700,000 to $800,000.

According to the article, while prices went up 25 per cent last year, the Gold Coast is “one of those rare cities where you can still find affordable property mixed among the penthouses and mansions”.

“The chilled way of life is as alluring as the affordable property”, the article states, quoting Selling Houses Australia host and long-term local Andrew Winter as saying the work/life balance “would shock people in the UK”.

“We start very early in the morning but finish early,” Mr Winter is quoted as saying. “Builders show up at 6am, stop at 2pm and are surfing by 3pm”.

Huge numbers of British people are said to be interested in moving to the Gold Coast.

The mostly positive article suggests that there is huge interest in the Gold Coast among British residents, encouraged by Mayor Tom Tate’s recent appearance at networking receptions in Birmingham and London.

However it’s not quite all sweetness and light, with Nerang described in the article as “a pretty ugly place with a motorway through the middle” despite being touted by one ex-pat as “the real Gold Coast, not the touristy glamorous bit.”

Readers are also warned they may find “integration rather difficult” if they’ve been raised with classic British manners.

“If you are working class and British it is very easy to fit in here,” the article quotes one person as saying.

“If you’re more middle class you could find it frustrating as the beautiful manners that have helped you through life may actually irritate the locals.”

Southern suburbs were described as “posh hoods”, while Nerang was described as “ugly”.

The same ex-pat says Aussies are not as funny as English people, but overall rated the Gold Coast as a far better place to live.

“The thought (of moving back) has never crossed our minds,” he said. “We really like it here.

“The weather, the people, our standard of living, the countryside. The Gold Coast is a hard-working, hard-playing place. It’s buzzing.

“While I miss people back home – the English in general are far funnier than Aussies – the wife hated UK weather, the wages are crap, the economy is buggered and the place is riven by politics.

“That could all happen here too. But at least the sun will be shining.”

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Originally published as Sunday Times UK article reveals what British people think of Gold Coast