City of Gold Coast, Queensland

City of Gold Coast Queensland
Map showing City of Gold Coast within South East Queensland
City of Gold Coast Coat of Arms
Population	555,608 (2015 Est.)
• Density	409.1/km2 (1,060/sq mi)
Established	1948
Area	1,358 km2 (524.3 sq mi)
Mayor	Tom Tate
Council seat	Surfers Paradise
Region	South East Queensland
State electorate(s)	Albert, Broadwater, Burleigh, Coomera, Currumbin, Gaven, Mermaid Beach, Mudgeeraba, Southport, Surfers Paradise
Federal Division(s)	Fadden, Forde, McPherson, Moncrieff, Wright
Website	City of Gold Coast
LGAs around City of Gold Coast: Logan Redland Redland Scenic Rim City of Gold Coast Pacific Ocean Tweed (NSW) Tweed (NSW) Pacific Ocean

The City of Gold Coast is the local government area spanning the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and surrounding areas. Based on resident population in the 2011 census, it is the second largest local government area in Australia (City of Brisbane being the largest). Its council maintains a staff of over 2,500. It was established in 1948, but has existed in its present form since 2008.

By the late 1870s, the Government of Queensland had become preoccupied with the idea of getting local residents to pay through rates for local services, which had become a massive cost to the colony and were undermaintained in many areas. The McIlwraith government initiated the Divisional Boards Act 1879 which created a system of elected divisional boards covering most of Queensland. It was assented by the Governor on 2 October 1879, and on 11 November 1879, the Governor gazetted a list of 74 divisions which would come into existence. Four of these—Nerang, Coomera, Beenleigh and Waterford—were in the Gold Coast region. Southport was developed as both an administrative centre as well as a holiday destination with hotels and guesthouses to cater for visitors. Town dwellers had different needs to the rural landholders so Southport ratepayers lobbied the colonial government to create a separate Divisional Board so that rates monies raised by Southport landholders could be spent on town improvements. This resulted in the establishment of the Southport Division on 14 July 1883 by an amalgamation of part of Nerang Division and part of Coomera Division.

On 31 March 1903, following the enactment of the Local Authorities Act 1902, the divisions became shires. On 12 June 1914, the Town of Coolangatta was created from part of the Shire of Nerang, and on 12 April 1918, Southport became a Town.