Coolangatta Australian Football sports building to be demolished after 40 years
A southern Gold Coast sports club is being demolished after more than 40 years. Find out what will be put in its place.
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A southern Gold Coast sports club will be demolished after more than 40 years, with residents saying it’s a “sad end” for the local fixture.
After 18 months of trying to save The Coolangatta Blues Australian Football Club sports headquarters, the Kirra Sports Club, Gold Coast City Council is bringing in the bulldozers.
Division 14 councillor Gail O’Neill said the building was “in a state of disrepair”.
“It would have required a major renovation to bring it to a usable standard,” she said.
Ms O’Neill said council launched an expression of interest process in 2020 and continued it for 18 months.
“It was not successful,” she said.
“After a review it was decided to convert the land to parkland.”
Ms O’Neill said, while the clubhouse had a “long and not so good history”, she hoped both council and the state government would support future grants to Coolangatta AFL to build a new clubhouse.
Coolangatta Soccer Club said they had looked at renting the derelict building but “the state of degradation was unfeasible”.
“It’s a shame the state it’s in,” they said on Facebook.
Many other southern Gold Coasters said they were “sad” to hear the news but weren’t surprised.
“I remember how we (the then members) worked so hard to make this clubhouse happen,” Jenny Fraser commented on Facebook.
“Very sad indeed.”
Leah Emmett said Coolangatta was “ready for a family friendly AFL club”.
While Mark James said the building “should have been bulldozed 20 years ago and replaced with a better version”.
“Time for a new start, let’s hope something bigger and better rises from the ashes,” Bob Rich said.
“With new people running the club now, I’m sure this will happen.
“John Lavender you have done a wonderful job resurrecting this once great club, many thanks from the old boys.”
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Originally published as Coolangatta Australian Football sports building to be demolished after 40 years
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