kirra

For more than a century, Coolangatta has been a favourite escape from the more hectic cities of Queensland and New South Wales. This quiet suburb between the states has a long and colourful history, from the voyage of the Endeavour to the establishing of an international airport connecting Coolangatta to the world. Founding of the township Captain Cook sailed by the area later known as Coolangatta on his 1770 voyage, christening notable local landmarks such as Point Danger. By 1828, the region was home to one of the largest European settlements on the Gold Coast, complete with a convict station. Coolangatta was formally established as a border town in 1883, named in honour of a vessel wrecked at Kirra Beach several decades earlier, whose survivors made the arduous 110-kilometre trek to Amity Point over six days. Home to little more than a pilot station, customs house and a single hotel at the time, it was the opening of the Brisbane-Tweed Heads railway in 1903 that transformed Coolangatta forever. Growth of tourism With Coolangatta now on the map, Kirra and Greenmount beaches quickly became the worst-kept secrets on the Gold Coast. The headland became popular for family holidays, fishing and a focal point for surfing in the region, hosting carnivals and opening its first surf life-saving club in 1911. More than 16,000 people visited Coolangatta by train in 1914, and that number grew considerably in subsequent years as the opening of the South Coast road from Brisbane offered even more convenient access for weekend breaks, turning tourism into a major local industry. Hotels such as the Family Hotel, Federal Hotel and Greenmount Guesthouse were built to meet the increasing demands of visitors, along with other amenities such as churches, a shopping precinct and the renowned Capitol Cinema, popular with tourists and the growing residential population alike. As the town continued to expand, it merged with Southport in 1949 to become the South Coast Shire, and was later absorbed into Gold Coast City as its southernmost suburb. Coolangatta connected with destinations across the country with the opening of the airport in 1936, which has undergone extensive upgrades and expansions ever since, operating its first international flights in 1990. Source: www.strandcoolangatta.com.au/centre-info/history

Named after the schooner Coolangatta which was wrecked here in 1846, this suburb exudes an old-school beachside charm. It combines this with oceanfront accommodation, cafes, restaurants and clubs. Flock to Coolangatta for retro festivals and, due to the summer time difference with Tweed Heads, celebrate New Year’s twice. Now that’s a good resolution. Source: www.queensland.com/us/en/places-to-see/destination-inform...

Greenmount Hill (28.1652°S 153.5447°E ) at 32 meters (105 ft) above sea level on the coast, which was named for the Greenmount Guest House, operated from 1905 by Patrick J. Fagan and named after his birthplace in County Meath, Ireland[5] Source: wikipedia St Augustine's Catholic Church was opened in December 1926. Foundation stone records: The foundation stone of this church - to the Honour and Glory of God - under ther Patronage of St Augustine - was blessed and laid by - The Most Rev J Duhig DD - Archbishop of Brisbane - 13th April 1925 - The Rev L Carlton PP. A stone in the extension records: St Augustine's War Memorial Church - these additions were erected in memory of those - who died in the service of God and Country - 'Greater love than this no man hath - that a man lay down his life for his friends.' - This stone was blessed by - Most Rev Sir James Duhig DD KCMG - on 22nd December 1963 - Rev Father D D Boland PP. Source: www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/... A stone tablet in the front steps records: These steps have been erected - in memory of - Mary Agnes Tyrrell - who died at Coolangatta, 19th Dec 1933.- R I P.

Hotel Grande, Coolangatta THE HOTEL “PAR EXCELLENCE” Good Architectural Design and Convenient Planning Described by enthusiastic admirers as “The Florida of Australia,’' Coolangatta is a name at the utterance of which most Queenslanders immediately begin making rapid mental calculations as to the incidence of their next holidays. For Coolangatta is Queensland’s playground. To them, it is Manly, Bondi, Cronulla and Palm Beach all rolled into one, and they love it accordingly. And well they might, for Nature was indeed in a very beneficent mood when she not only smiled but laughed gloriously, upon Coolangatta. Marvellous beaches, gleaming sand, backed by verdant mountains, sweeping down to grassy flats through which lazily rolls “old man Tweed” to mingle with the mighty deep of the Pacific. The Beauties of Coolangatta So why indeed should not all Queenslanders flock to Coolangatta at the slightest opportunity to gambol on its sands; bask in its sunlight and .gain vigour in its perfect surf? And they most certainly do, so that the town’s growing population of 3,000 increases more than threefold to 10,000 in the surfing season. An expansion such as this, comprising some 7,000 persons, obviously requires a considerable amount of accommodation, and it is the provision of the highest possible order of such service that brings us to the point of this article—The Hotel Grande. Coolangatta has possessed a Hotel Grande for many years, but the original building of this name was an old wooden structure, having little out of the ordinary in the way of attractions, so that when in 1931 the fire god claimed it as a victim, it was after all perhaps not a great loss, aesthetically speaking. The proprietress of the Hotel Grande, Mrs C. C. McDonald, is one of those energetic people who look difficulties so squarely in the eye, that they almost assume the guise of opportunities, so that almost before the last blazing ember of Hotel Grande No. 1 was extinguished, the vision of Hotel Grande No. 2 had already filled her mind—and what visions! A hotel that was the last word in modernity and one that would be the showplace not only of Coolangatta, but of Queensland. To translate this vision into reality, Mrs McDonald consulted Mr. M. V. E. Woodforde, OTEL GRANDE, COOLANGATTA (Q’LD.) The Hotel Grande, Coolangatta, which has just been completed to the design of M. V. E. Woodforde, architect, is undoubtedly one of the finest of its type to be found at any seaside resort in Australia. It embodies every modern convenience and is spaciously planned and lavishly equipped. One of the most attractive features of the building is the internal courtyard, which imparts a continental atmosphere that is very appropriate. 52a March 13, 1933. Source: nla.gov.au/nla.obj-294143016/view?sectionId=nla.obj-29838...

I have posted this on my Vintage Queensland facebook page and most agree the swimsuits are more likely to be in the early 1950s/late 1940s, not the 1930s.

The small rocky headland Kirra Point separates Kirra Beach to the north and Coolangatta Beach to the south, and is noted as one of the world's premier surf breaks. In the past the surf break was known for producing high quality barrels. Today sand pumping across the Tweed River mouth has filled it in and changed its character. The name of the neighbourhood comes from Kirra Hill which is 27 metres (89 ft) above sea level,[3] which first appears on an 1883 survey plan by surveyor Mr Schneider. Although believed to be an Indigenous name, the specific language and meaning is unknown. For example, in the Yuggera language, kaiyar means white cockatoo while in the Kabi language kirran means fire.[1] Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirra,_Queensland

The people in this photo are actually sitting on Greenmount Point - the headland in the background is Kirra Point, with Coolangatta Beach separating the two.

Thank you for your comment. This photograph has been updated on the catalogue with the relevant information update this Dec 2011 version of this image..

the building is still there, but Kirra Beach is very different now!

This is a great photo.

Kirra Beach from Kirra Hill Pictorial Time Line From 1910 1915 when Kirra became a popular holiday destination 1920 - first Life Surf Saving Club 1930 - Kirra Beach Pavilion and officially opened in 1935 1936 - Tropical cyclon heat and beached washed away 1940 - Over time the beach recovered natural way 1946 - Signs of longshore shoal migration 1950 - Camping grounds popularity 1954 - Cyclone causing beach erosion 1960 - Natural recovering 1965 - Major coastal engineering 1970 - Natural recovery but beach remained narrower and another erosion 1972 - Kirra Point built 1974 - severe cyclones 1995 - Chronically eroded area 2000 - Still subject to erosion Source: www.tweedsandbypass.nsw.gov.au/historical-images/historic...