Southport Spit, Queensland

The Southport Spit (also referred to as The Spit) lies opposite of Southport to the north of Main Beach, Gold Coast. It is a permanent sand spit that separates the Southport Broadwater from the Pacific Ocean.

Today the Southport Spit is home to Sea World, Sea World Resort, the Sheraton Mirage Resort and Spa, as well as Palazzo Versace. On the end of The Spit is the Gold Coast Sand Pumping Jetty, a popular destination for fishermen and part of the Gold Coast Seaway's Sand Bypassing System.

The Gold Coast Oceanway and the Federation Walk provide opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists to explore the Spit.

The Spit was formed between 1897 and 1898, a product of longshore drift when high seas broke through a small area of land called Jumpinpin on Stradbroke Island. This made a new ocean passage and divided Stradbroke Island in two (North & South). The continuous longshore drift continued to eroded South Stradbroke Island. Navigational difficulties lead to boating accidents, prompting the planning and design of the Gold Coast Seaway.

The design of the Gold Coast Seaway relied on data from the Beach Protection Authority to prevent it becoming a baymouth bar connecting to South Stradbroke Island. Construction of the project had six main phases: Retaining walls using approximately one million tonnes of imported rock, Dredging 4.5 million cubic metres sand, closure of the old entrance, sand bypassing system, revegetation and sewage outfall. As The Spit then drew demand for private leasehold title of land, along with applications for dredging rights of mineral sands.

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