Gold Coast, city in southeastern Queensland, Australia, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Gold Coast is one of Australia's largest and fastest-growing cities. It is the second largest urban area in Queensland after Brisbane, the capital. Gold Coast developed from the merging of a number of coastal towns. It stretches for more than 50 km (more than 30 mi) from Southport in the north to Tweeds Head in the south, just across the border in the state of New South Wales. Tourism is the chief economic activity. Many people visit the area to swim, surf, and fish. There are also many hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs. Sea World in Southport is a popular venue for viewing sharks and dolphins. Surfers Paradise has a large casino and an international automobile racing facility.
Gold Coast began developing rapidly in the 1950s, mainly to accommodate the growing tourist industry. Many people have also migrated to the area from other parts of Australia. Between 1970 and 1991, the population of Gold Coast nearly tripled. The rapid development of the area has made beach erosion a major problem. Population (1999 estimate) 391,200.
