Arcade goes on register

Heritage building saved from being demolished

COUNCILLORS have backed calls for the old Burleigh Theatre Arcade to be placed on the local heritage register and saved from being demolished for a high rise building.

Gold Coast City Council officers had earlier discovered City Plan provisions were not strong enough to protect the site, which has changed ownership and could be developed for a 14-storey luxury accommodation tower.

The move yesterday by the council essentially saves the building, requiring the developer to build around it on the site or consider potential court action. The council will inform the applicant before Christmas.

Sydney property development company Weiya Holdings bought the site for $18.5 million and in August announced plans for a luxury apartment building with a new arcade at its base.

A report to the full council yesterday said the theatre arcade had been a significant and integral component of the character of Burleigh since opening in the 1930s.

The council had received 18 submissions, of which 15 considered the property was of cultural heritage significance to the city. Residents believed it was an important local landmark with a public cultural connection to the area.

Councillors agreed on a recommendation that the arcade building be entered into the Gold Coast Local Heritage Register and that a notice of the decision should be provided to the owner within 10 days. The City Plan would be changed to include the listing on the register.

Area councillor Pauline Young did not vote due to a personal interest.

Only Deputy Mayor Donna

Gates voted against the recommendation, and outside the chamber said she “did not believe that the building shows off the city in the best light” given the changes to the old theatre across decades.

“I think the renovations which have occurred over time to that building render it not of heritage value,” Cr Gates said.

But Mayor Tom Tate told the Bulletin: “You know architecture is very subjective, but on the Gold Coast we have to reflect on heritage, we don’t have a lot of it.

“It’s an opportunity to save this, it was voted and got through. And back 20 years ago as I built some buildings in Kent Street in Sydney, there were some people that would go ‘it’s so ugly, why are you keeping the facade?’.

“And we built it, kept the facade. You go down there now and say so glad it was kept because of the history.”

HOW nice to see Surfers Paradise represented in the Australian Open Golf in Sydney by Southport Golf Club junior and 17-year-old amateur Elvis Smylie.

He is the son of tennis player Liz Smylie who won countless tennis titles around the world.

Elvis is a very likeable young lad with no airs and graces. Let’s wish him well in his golf endeavours. If he emulates his mum he will be going well. FRANK TEWKESBURY, ARUNDEL