GOLD COAST HISTORICAL MUSEUM INC.
Visit us at -
8 Elliott Street,
Surfers Paradise 4217
Opening hours:
Sundays 10am - 3pm
Tuesdays 9am - 1pm
Wednesdays 9am - 1pm
Contact us:
histsocbun@bigpond.com
About the Museum
The Gold Coast Historical Museum was formed in 1972 and is situated on land believed to be part of a former Aboriginal gathering place with shell middens. The heritage listed grounds include remnant littoral rainforest with ancient native vegetation and Wallum heath plants. The Bundall sugar plantation and mill was in the vicinity from 1872 until 1888 and family members of those who worked at the mill are buried with marked graves within the grounds. The historical collection includes original Cable Station equipment which was in operation from 1902 when it made landfall at Southport (visit the cable hut on Cable Street, Main Beach). See iconic fashions including Paula Stafford bikinis, Ivy Hassard fashions and Meter Maid uniforms. The museum also homes the original Vincent Sheldon artist studio, which is heritage listed and was originally situated at Chelsea Ave, Broadbeach. There are some 2,500 objects, 1,500 photographs of the Gold Coast area, archival records including old newspapers, maps and development plans and books of local interest. The museum houses machinery and tools from the timber, farming and sugar industries from the 1860s onwards.
OUR MISSION STATMENT
OUR MISSION IS TO:
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Preserve and display artefacts relevant to local Indigenous culture prior to European settlement as well as artifacts and photographs which offer insight into development on the Gold Coast area since.
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Preserve and interpret existing evidence of the geological, botanical and human usage history of the Museum site.
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Develop displays depicting the changing ways that visitors have enjoyed the Gold Coast Attractions.
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Encourage the use of the collection as an education resource.