lifestyle
The People Stories and Faces That Make This Place Special
Residents across neighbourhoods continue to shape daily life through small acts that build lasting connections on the Gold Coast.
How we reported this
Locals at the weekly gathering on Cavill Avenue in Surfers Paradise started a new round of informal storytelling sessions on 5 July 2026, drawing steady crowds of 40 to 50 people each Sunday morning.
The sessions matter now because winter visitor numbers have dropped and year-round residents seek ways to strengthen ties after a quieter tourist season that ended in late June.
One group meets near the Southport Broadwater Parklands each Thursday afternoon while another runs a similar circle at Miami Marketta on Friday evenings, both supported by the Gold Coast City Council’s community grants program that began funding in 2024.
Gold Coast Tourism recorded 11.8 million overnight visitors for the 2025 calendar year, a figure that underscores how permanent residents fill the gaps when seasonal crowds thin out.
Daily routines that stand out
At the Southport sessions participants describe routines such as early-morning walks along the Nerang River and shared garden plots behind the local library branch, details that rarely appear in visitor guides.
These accounts show how people who live near Queen Street in Southport or in the back streets of Broadbeach maintain the city’s character through repeated small contributions rather than large events.
Next steps for anyone interested
Anyone can join the next Cavill Avenue circle this coming Sunday at 9am or sign up for the Miami Marketta group through the council website, where spots remain open at no cost.