Gold Coast holiday: home movie

The NFSA has a number of home movies of Gold Coast holidays. This clip from the 1970s is an excerpt from home movies shot by Eileen Smith. It features Jack Evans' Porpoise Pool, Bullen's Lion Park, boat tours, waterskiing, Marineland and other attractions. The closing image of an XP Falcon car hooked up to a caravan is enough to bring back memories for many people.

By the late 1950s and 60s, the Gold Coast was rapidly becoming a major holiday destination. All along the coast, resorts, guesthouses and holiday homes sprang up swelling the population five times over during the holiday season. The region now attracts over 13 million visitors and approximately 12,500 new residents each year.