The people stories and faces that make this place special

Residents in Surfers Paradise launched a weekly storytelling circle last month at the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct, drawing 40 participants on 5 July to share accounts of their time in the city.

The sessions come at a moment when Gold Coast City Council data shows visitor numbers reached 12.8 million in the year to June 2026, pushing locals to strengthen neighbourhood ties amid the growth.

Stories from Cavill Avenue to Mermaid Beach

One regular at the circle lives on Cavill Avenue and runs a small repair service for surfboards near the beachfront. Another participant volunteers at the Miami Marketta food stalls every Saturday, where she has tracked stock for three local produce sellers since 2023. These accounts sit alongside similar efforts at the Southport Community Centre, where a monthly drop-in session for new arrivals pairs them with long-term residents for practical advice on transport routes and council services.

Council records indicate 4,200 people joined at least one community program in the first half of 2026, up from 3,150 in the same period two years earlier. The increase aligns with a 14 per cent rise in applications for the council's neighbourhood grants, which now total $285,000 distributed across 28 projects.

Next steps for residents

Anyone interested can register for the next storytelling circle on 19 July by visiting the Cultural Precinct desk or calling the listed number on the council website. The same site posts updated times for the Miami Marketta stalls and Southport drop-ins, allowing new participants to join without advance commitment.