Tidal Wave of Change

Trusted beachfront sales specialist and strategic advisor Troy Dowker taps into the rich history of the Gold Coast’s most iconic southern coastal suburbs and charts their growth.

The Gold Coast’s once sleepy southern seaside strip has changed a lot over the past two centuries, but one thing remains the same – people still gravitate towards the beach.

The coastal stretch between Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta is among the most beautiful in the world, according to Troy Dowker, who has been selling beachfront real estate for the past 19 years. “From world-class surfing beaches to pristine estuaries and national parks full of wildlife, nature is a huge drawcard in the southern beachside suburbs.”

The popularity of southern seaside suburbs has risen to the point that opportunities to acquire established homes or development sites are now rare, with strong competition driving record prices. “The first major run to the beachfront was from 2000 to 2008,” says Troy. “The demand for lifestyle properties ramped up again over the past two years off the back of Covid. “People are wanting to live the best lifestyle they possibly can, and these beachside communities certainly offer that and more.”

Troy takes a look back at how each of the key southern suburbs has evolved.

Coolangatta

With a name derived from the Aboriginal expression for “a beautiful place”, Coolangatta has long been recognised for its natural appeal. Home to one of the largest European settlements on the Gold Coast, the area was formally established as a border town in 1883. The opening of the Brisbane-Tweed railway in 1803 transformed the sleepy seaside village into a popular family holiday destination for fishing and surfing at world-class breaks from Snapper Rocks to Greenmount, Rainbow Bay and Kirra Beach. A limited supply of housing has led to higher density development along this coastal strip, attracting a thriving hub of restaurants, cafes and shops to service locals and visitors.

$2,850,000

Highest House Sale Price

Population: 6,491 Bilinga Population: 1,883

Once known as “that strip of sand north of Coolangatta”, Bilinga claimed its own identity in 1918 with its place name derived from the Aboriginal word Bilinba, meaning bats. In the 1930s the location was deemed suitable for an emergency landing strip that was later developed into Coolangatta Airport and recently upgraded to the tune of $500 million. Bilinga is also home to Southern Cross University. Proximity to the airport and beautiful beaches have seen beach shacks replaced by low-rise holiday accommodation along Golden Four Drive, now among the southern beaches’ most expensive real estate.

$4,720,000

Highest House Sale Price

“On a global scale, we’re so blessed to have such natural beauty right on our doorstep,” says Troy, who lives in Currumbin with his family.

$1,550,000

Median Sale Price $1,100,000 Median Sale Price