Gold Coast Roller Skating History
I'll be adding to this as facts come to light .. please assist if you can

This web page is still very much under construction. For now you can check out a Chronological listing of Gold Coast Roller Skating events, or look immediately below here to see individual histories for each of the rinks.

Skateland, Southport
This roller skating rink was opened at 75 Nerang St Southport on the 23rd May 1967. Trevor Wells was the origional resident coach and rink manager, remaining there until a change of ownership in 19 . Shortly after, management had appointed a Colin Hammond as the Artistic coach, but he only remained for a short time. Up until the closure of the rink, a Brisbane based coach (Richard Balls) did weekend coaching. At this present time, the building is unoccupied and up for lease.

Miami
The Miami rink was located in Christine Ave Miami, and closed for business in the 1980's. For some time afterwards there was a Religious group conducting Church services within the building, but at this time the building is up for lease.
It was in the 1960's and 70's that the Miami Club was at it's strongest, under the Artistic coaching guidance of Murrey Burney. The origional owners, the Johnson's, sold the rink and it was then under the control of the Murphy family.

Rollerland
This Coolangatta rink has been around for many many years, well before I was even born. Not only is Rollerland the oldest rink on the Gold Coast, it is still operating as a Roller Skating rink.
Barbara Cossill was the resident coach at Rollerland until her death from cancer in the early 70's.

Skaters Paradise
Benowa Skating Complex

Chronological History
23rd May, 1967 Official opening of the Southport Skating Rink under the name of Embassy. The rink was built by a local developer, Laurie Wall, himself a past Australian skating champion (1936). Some of the origional staff were Phil McIntosh (Manager), Trevor Wells (Teacher and Floor Supervisor) and Jana Cameron-Smith (Office and Ticket Sales). Admission prices in the early days were 60 cents for adults including skate hire, and children 20 cents with own skates.
21st July, 1967 Embassy was renamed to Skateland (under new mamagement).
March 1969 (thereabouts) Skateland Club members perform a Mary Poppins pantomine at the opening of the Sundale shopping centre.
August 1969 Club members travel by train to Adelaide for the Australian Titles ... a lenghty trip with change overs in Sydney and Melbourne.
14th March, 1974 The Skateland building was sold for $135,000 to Sterling Investments. The final skating sessions continued for a few days up to the 18th March, when the doors were finally closed. Soon after, Errol Stewarts take over the building and commence trading as a discount appliance store.
May 1998 Errol Stewarts vacate the old Skateland building after occupying it for some 14 years. The owner, in Melbourne, has local real estate companies place "For Lease" signs upon the building. To this day, the old Skateland building is still for lease nearly a year later.
6th June, 1998 Over 150 Skateland members, and some from Rollerland and Miami, come to a reunion at Skaters Paradise Southport.