Hicks family legacy lives

THE pioneering Gold Coast family who gifted the Bruce Bishop Carpark site to the city have finally broken their silence on council’s controversial decision to sell the prime parcel of land.

The Hicks family’s contribution to the city was yesterday recognised after the walking trail over the new outdoor stage at the Home of the Arts, at Evandale, was named the Hicks Family Lookout Trail.

The late Charles Joseph Hicks donated the land that currently houses the Bruce Bishop Carpark to the city in 1938 on condition it remain a park. A previous council later built the carpark on the site but preserved a park on top of the building.

The current council plans to use funds raised from the carpark’s sale – tipped to be anywhere from $60 to $100 million – to pay for Stage 1 of the new cultural precinct, which includes the newly renamed Home of the Arts, and an upgraded bridge to the Isle of Capri.

Five of Mr Hicks’ 15 grandchildren joined Mayor Tom Tate at HOTA yesterday

to officially unveil naming plaques at either end of the lookout trail.

Charles Hicks, 60, said his grandfather would have approved wholeheartedly of council’s decision to sell the carpark to fund the cultural precinct project.

“We’re very, very happy with the way it’s turned out and we’re extremely happy with how our grandfather has been honoured in such a way,” he said.

“I couldn’t be happier. This is for future generations of Gold Coasters and visitors. This reflects my grandfather’s wishes in the sense that it will continue to give to the community.”

Mr Hicks said the family had chosen not to comment on the carpark sale until now but was consulted by council “every step of the way”.

“I don’t need to get into any political debate,” he said.

“I’ve seen some very strange comments about people wanting to give the land back to the Bishop family. It didn’t come from the Bishop family. It came from the Hicks family and they are happy that it continues to be a gift that will continue to give to the community for years to come.”

The Hicks family arrived on the Coast in the 1920s and became key supporters of service groups including the Country Women’s Association and Rotary. The family worked with horse-drawn equipment to build the road from the Coast up to Springbrook, opening up the hinterland to new families.

“Importantly, the family also donated a portion of land to the city,” Cr Tate said.