Signs of the times from Coast’s past
How pioneers left their mark on our suburbs and streets
EVER wondered how your street, local park or suburb was named?
Most of the roads we drive along every day were named after families or landowners who contributed to developing the Gold Coast.
Robina was once dairy farms, Helensvale had a gelatine factory, and Bundall and Benowa had sugar plantations.
The city’s street names come from traditional indigenous names, as well as those of Australian animals, bird and trees, and even brands of cars.
ROBINA
Believe it or not, in the early 1920s Robina was farming land owned by the grandparents of Bill Laver, now aged 90 and living at Tallai. Mr Laver was the chairman of the Albert Shire from 1972 to 1993 when the Robina and Mudgeeraba areas were being subdivided and developed. Albert Shire was later merged with the City of Gold Coast.
“(Laver Drive) was named after my grandfather who purchased land in the area in 1924. It was originally Laver Road,” he said.
“They owned the property at the end of the (street). It was a principle in those days that whoever owned the property at the end of the street had the street named after them.”
Gold Coast Historical Society and Museum volunteer
Bob Nancarrow said there had been a few changes over recent decades.
“What is now known as Johnston Street (in Southport) was once known as Racecourse Road,’’ Mr Nancarrow said.
“Back in the early 1900s, that was where the races were held.
“Nerang River used to be River Barron. Tallebudgera Creek used to be River Perry.”
ASHMORE
The suburb has a mixture of indigenous street names including Girraween, Kootingal, Midgera, Gunyah, Binalong and Willamulka.
Other street names reflect the Scottish heritage of a developer – Ainsley, Lochinvar, Glenmore and Cameron.
BENOWA WATERS
Street names in Benowa stem from Scottish and French influences.
The Scottish names begin with Edinburgh Rd, and include Selkirk Ave, Ulrike Way,
Kincardine Drive and Arbuthnot Pde. Turn a corner and the streets have a French flavour – Charolais Cres, Chantilly Close and Cheval Court.
BUNDALL
Ever noticed some of the streets in this suburb are named after car manufacturers? Holden Place, Rover St, Jaguar Drive, Daimler Drive and Mercedes Place can be found in Bundall.
BURLEIGH
Christine Ave, one of the longest roads on the Coast, runs through four suburbs – Robina, Varsity Lakes, Burleigh Heads and Burleigh Waters.
It was named by developer Keith Dudman after his youngest daughter, but originally was a small street with the Miami skating rink.
Nine surrounding streets in the Burleigh Waters and Miami area are named after nine other children. His home in Joan St was named after his late wife.
CURRUMBIN
Len Wort Park is a popular wedding destination with a story. Originally, the space between Currumbin Beach and Tugun was a caravan park called Ronian after Len Wort’s sons Ron and Ian.
HELENSVALE
Helensvale was believed to be a sugar plantation in the 1870s before being purchased decades later by Davis Gelatine Pty, which manufactured gelatine products.
A large area of land was owned by the Siganto family – and that is the origin of the name Siganto Drive.
ISLE OF CAPRI
Amalfi, The Corso, Rapallo, Florence, La Scala and Salerno are all roads in the Isle of Capri with Italian names.
SOUTHPORT
Eileen, Shirley, Joan, Margaret, Jane, Enid, Anne, Mabel, Caroline, Susanne and Sybil – many streets in Southport are named after women.
“There’s a whole lot of street names in Southport that are named after people who died in the First World War,” Mr Nancarrow said.
“The street next to the Southport Courthouse was once called Leonard Street. It was named after a man who died in World War I. Now it’s called Hinze Street.
“Hanlan Street in Southport was once Poleman, also after a bloke in the First World War.
“And in one area there are streets named after people who were in the air force in the Second World War.”
SURFERS PARADISE
The Glitter Strip’s most iconic street, Cavill Ave, was named after Jim Cavill who opened a 16-bedroom hotel in 1925 in an area known as Elston, which would later be renamed Surfers Paradise.
BROADBEACH
Fremar St was named by Fred Anderson and his wife Mary, who owned the land and lived in the area surrounding Bermuda and Monaco streets. The name is a combination of their names.