Change is inevitable. I look around and see it happening. So before these Icons have gone and been replaced with bigger and better (often debatable) I decided to take my camera for a ride on the light rail/G.link to Surfers Paradise and walk around to show you what is here at the moment.
This is Pacific Fair at Broadbeach. It opened in 1977 and at that time grew to be the major shopping centre on the Gold Coast. It was the jewel in the crown and a major tourist attraction.
“Pacific Fair opened in 1977 on what was swampland with just 96 specialty stores and two anchor tenants. Since then, Pacific Fair has undergone numerous expansions and grew to have more than 300 specialty stores and four anchor tenants.” (Wikipedia)
But gradually new shopping precincts opened. Robina muscled into the market. Brighter, bigger and all air-conditioned it made Pacific Fair look tired and out dated.
So in January 2014, work began on a major redevelopment project to meet the predicted regional growth on the Gold Coast. Shoppers will be lured back to ‘bricks and mortar’ retailers from online shopping when the $670 million transformation of Pacific Fair is complete.
Take a look at what is coming….
Click on the following link for a fly-through of the proposed revamp.
http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/pacific-fairs-670m-revamp-set-to-make-broadbeach-shopping-centre-a-mustsee-destination/story-fnj94idh-1226785865380
This is the new look. What do you think? I prefer the previous frontage, as seen in the top photo. I think it has character and a certain style. This new (improved?) look to me is just a generic clone of commercial buildings, all square and chunky, no finesse…
Just a short stroll along the highway, negotiating the crossings and avoiding the trains, is Jupiter’s Casino.
Jupiter’s Casino was opened in 1986 and has had 2 major renovations in 2006 and 2012.
The seven acre complex includes eight bars, seven restaurants, conference facilities, a ballroom, theatre, health spa, gym, and a monorail which connects the property to the Oasis Shopping Centre across the road. The hotel, with 594 rooms, stands 66 metres (216 feet) and has 21 floors.
But look what is coming…
This is an artists impression of the 6 star hotel complex that is to be built.
JUPITERS Hotel & Casino is embracing the great outdoors with work on the first stage of its $345 million transformation finally under way. It is expected to be finished before the 2018 Commonwealth Games start.
I hop back onto the G. Link and hop off again at Surfers Paradise, a 5 minute ride.
Across the road is the famous “Hard Rock Café” sign, but a sign of the times is the “for lease” sign in the window. Business has been hard for the traders in this area as the light rail took 3 years of disruption to construct and many shops simply closed the doors and walked away.
Caville Avenue is the main pedestrian shopping and tourist mall in Surfers Paradise, but look how empty and quiet it is. The beach is just at the end of this mall.
Mid-week and it is almost deserted. This is the iconic sign that must feature in millions of photos that go around the world.
The yellow life savers hut, yellow and red flags marking the safe to swim areas and the life savers on duty are icons I hope will never change.
Remember it is still winter, the weather is glorious, but where are all the people…
Time to head back home…
This is Burleigh Beach and this is where the people are, well a few, look at all the sun bathers…
Back home and a walk along Burleigh Beach. In the distance, across the sparkling ocean, the iconic outline of the hi-rises of Surfers Paradise line the horizon. The highest spike, in the centre of the row of buildings is Q1. Last week we visited it and from the top viewing deck could see all the way to this beach. But already there are plans in the pipe line to build another apartment block even higher than Q1.
So change is inevitable…
Well here I am, it is Monday and I am joining Jo’s Monday cyber walking group. I made it on the day, just…
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gypsy life 