BRIGHT HOPE FOR CITY
It’s known today as an exclusive home to the well-heeled but Hope Island started out as a farm.
MILLIONAIRES and richlisters today call Hope Island home.
Among the Gold Coast’s most high-profile areas, it is best-known for its wellmanicured golf courses and exclusive enclaves including Sanctuary Cove.
It’s a well-heeled suburb which will cost you a pretty penny to buy into these days, with new data released in February revealing its homes now cost seven times what they did in 1996.
The median price has soared from $145,000 to $1.040m. It’s a dramatic turnaround for an area which has a long history dating back to the 19th century.
In part one of a series on the booming north, we look at the suburb’s origin and how the 1980s shaped its future.
Hope Island is named for Captain Louis Hope, a Scottish-born grazier who arrived in Australia in 1848 and bought up significant land in and around Moreton Bay in the 1850s before serving as a state MP for more than 20 years.
In thanks for his significant role in developing the region’s sugar cane industry, Captain Hope was given more than 1800 acres (728ha) of land around the mouth of the Coomera River.
The aristocratic figure never lived there, instead choosing to remain at his home in what is today Redland
Bay before returning to the UK and ultimately dying in 1894.
The Coomera land was developed by the Grimes family into a sugar plantation, a thriving business, which continued well into the 20th century.
Fast-forward to the 1980s and Hope Island came into focus as the next region for growth.
In 1985 the region was described by Bulletin writer Nan Dwyer as: “Sleepy and secure, its central and rather sodden terrain decorated only by the occasional farm house, while a few streets back from the Coomera River older weekenders rub shoulders with the houses of more recent commuter residents, Hope Island is about to be catapulted into its new tourist role as Gateway to the Gold Coast.”
Plans were filed in 1982 by Development Equity Corporation for a giant 206ha, $150m Mediterranean themed resort with a convention hall capable of seating 2000 people, a ninehole golf course, parking for 2000 cars, eight tennis courts, two bowling greens, three swimming pools, and facilities for horse riding, squash and gymnastics.
Accommodation was to be provided by an internationalstandard hotel of 300 rooms, a “village’’ hotel complex of 500 self-contained units in two and three-storey buildings and condominiums.
But the Albert Shire Council
Sanctuary Cove was the first major development to be built at Hope Island.
Businessman Mike Gore at his Sanctuary Cove Resort.
deferred approving the development at the time, saying it was “premature”.
It never went ahead. In January 1984 an investment company paid $1.2m for more than 174ha of land which plans for a tourist development.
Just one month later, businessman Mike Gore, heading developer Cheoy Lee Australia, submitted plans to Albert Shire Council for a giant $90m recreational centre, marina, boat manufacturing industry and residential area.
“We have the grounds and the infrastructure to support an international stadium,’’ he said.
“The Gold Coast is Australia’s
premier tourist destination and it’s in the embryonic stage of reaching the same standards at an international level.’’
This project, initially known as The Hope Island Resort, would eventually be named Sanctuary Cove and immediately became a topic of national conversation.
The Hawke federal government waved the project through, saying it would not breach any foreign investment laws, while Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-petersen immediately met Mr Gore and approved the development less than a month after its unveiling.
“If you want to generate this sort of thing, you have to show
to go until June next year,’’ he said.
The trams will be transported to the Gold Coast under the cover of darkness early, accompanied by a police escort.
‘‘It is a significant haulage and the (trucks) are over 50m in length,’’ Mr Mumford said. ‘‘The logistics of it have been planned out to a tee and we’ve even done a trial run.’’
Mr Mumford said he hoped locals would embrace the tram line once it became operational.
‘‘This is a 100-year investment in
Sanctuary Cove finally opened in 1988.
an interest in time.
The state government passed the Sanctuary Cove Resort Act 1985 which allowed for the site to be heavily developed into what was described at the time as an “integrated resort”.
With a new mega development approved, it led to calls for Coolangatta Airport to be upgraded to allow for more international visitors to fly in, something rubbished at the time by deputy mayor Sir John Egerton.
“Instead of wasting energy and finance in for a second international airport only 70km from Brisbane, we should be it,’’ he said at the
transport and it will enable the Gold Coast to continue to grow,’’ he said.
The trams, featuring the signature blue-and-gold colours of the Gold Coast, are the first in the world with built-in surfboard racks.
A further six were on their way to Australia, with one ship carrying three having left Germany at the time.
Testing on the trams ran until July 2014 when the first passengers came aboard. The tram was immediately popular and continues today. time, campaigning
concentrating on filling domestic airline seats Coolangatta,’’ he said.
Construction of Sanctuary Cove began in May 1985 when Sir Joh launched the project and announced the state would spend more than $5.8m to build what is today known as Hope Island Rd to support the growth of resorts in the city’s far north.
By late 1987 Sanctuary Cove was almost completed and Mr Gore prepared to launch his resort with great fanfare. NEXT WEEK: HOPE ISLAND’S BIG BOOM the into
TOUK A CHAMPION WITH PLENTY OF HEART
ONE thing that is often overlooked when discussing toplevel football players is the journey that brought them to playing at an elite level.
They all come from somewhere and were helped and encouraged, especially by family, on their way to the top.
That certainly applies to Touk Miller (pictured with Maddie Leek), who was announced as Club Champion and Players Players Award winner at the Gold Coast Suns awards event at The Star on Sunday night.
During his thank-you speech he took the time to mention almost everyone at the club who had contributed to the team while flashing his trademark megawatt smile.
At the conclusion he started to talk about the three most important people in his life.
His partner Maddie Leek and father Wylie received special praise for being there and helping through the good and bad times.
Then when he mentioned his mother Ruth Kimpton, his voice broke slightly and his eyes watered as he recalled all that the three meant to him.
They may be sporting gods on the field during their career but they will be a son and partner for life.
Splendid young men all.
A NAME IN MUSIC TO WATCH OUT FOR
IF things had gone according to her plans, singer/songwriter Euca would have celebrated her People’s Choice Award at the Gold Coast Music Awards with her real name.
“My first name is Eilish and just before I was set to launch myself on to the scene Billie Eilish became a global phenomenon. I had chosen Eilish Ellen, my given names, as a stage name but then had to change everything.
Conrad Jupiters’ last night of the Live From the Roosevelt show in 1992.
TODAY we go back to 1992 and the closing night of “Live From the Roosevelt” at Conrad Jupiters. The showroom at the casino is still one of the great
“Euca came about because I was looking for something that represented Australia, saw a giant gum tree and started to play around with eucalyptus and here I am.”
Winning the award means a lot to the talented local.
theatrical venues in Australia and during its heyday was the place to see such lavish productions as Mystique, Starz, Hollywood Legends and Inneuvre. This one was a
“Like many in the industry we have suffered from a lack of gigs and venues so this has been very validating and encouraging,” she said. “Everyone who is nominated for a GCMA gets put forward for the People’s Choice, a top three is selected and I ended up being chosen which was such a thrill and a huge honour.”
Her plans for the future are to release a single and an EP and get on the bill for any big
Jim Mcdonald production and in total over the years the many shows employed close to 2000 singers, dancers and musicians.
Even more importantly
festivals. “I said in an interview last year when things were really tough, ‘Screw it! I am a musician.’ Those times made me realise that I want to continue creating and performing so I need to roll with the bad times and get on with doing what I love.”
IT’S BEEN A MONTH TO REMEMBER
FOR local musician Jamie-lee Wilson, aka JVMIE, being around 5.5 million people bought tickets thus helping a generation of performers earn a living on stage.
Sadly those days may never be repeated.
nominated for two prizes at the Gold Coast Music Awards has been the cherry on top of what has been a momentous month.
“To get the nominations for Musician of the Year and Video of the Year was a huge honour for a born and bred Gold Coaster,” she said.
“I also wrote a song for Samsung to inspire Matildas (football team) vice-captain Steph Catley at the Tokyo Olympics.
“That in itself was a dream come true but then to hear it has been recorded by Sheppard, one of my favourite Aussie acts, was mind blowing.
“As every artist has stated, times have been tough but this business is a bit like spinning plates. We love to create but we have to remember that it is a business and you have to work to earn a living. I try to switch days from writing and producing one day to taking care of the commercial side the next.
“This weekend is also a milestone because I have two singles coming out on Anjunabeats (Above and Beyond label). I am also lucky enough to be back doing live shows so it will be a week that I will long remember.”
PARIS, WITH LOVE
WHEN the Lido de Paris closed down 18 months ago at the beginning of the Covid pandemic in France, it forced Gold Coast dancer Savanna Haenel to come home and wait out the storm. Now she is back in Paris and with the rest of the cast, is busy rehearsing for the reopening of the famous French cabaret on September 16.
Savanna arrived in Paris on her 18th birthday in 2017 to start her career at The Lido and now, four years later, this week she received a unique honour.
She has been promoted to the principal role, called Sublime, which is the most prestigious role in French theatre.
Now those in the dance class she taught at Ashmore PCYC during her time here will be able to boast that they learned from a Sublime – the best of the best.