Evolution of Gold Coast Communities and Indigenous Issues in Year 9 Geography

1. Communities Community Focus – Indigenous Communities Year 9 Geography Mr Scully

2. Questions for this lesson - • Identify the shared space of the Gold Coast community. • Outline how the European settlers changed the natural environment. • Describe the factors causing change in the Gold Coast community after 1950. • Outline the impacts of change on the Gold Coast community.

3. Indigenous Communities • In June 2006 the Indigenous population of Australia was 517 200 people, comprising 2.5 per cent of Australia’s total population. Of the total Indigenous community, 90 per cent identified themselves as being of Aboriginal origin, 6 per cent of Torres Strait Islander origin and 4 per cent as being of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin. • Distribution of Australia’s Indigenous population, 2006

4. Issues facing Indigenous communities • Twenty-seven per cent of Australia’s Indigenous population live in remote or very remote parts of Australia, compared with 2 per cent of non-Indigenous Australians. This means that many Indigenous people do not have access to the same services as most other Australians. Despite some progress, considerable disadvantage is still suffered by many of Australia’s Indigenous communities compared with the rest of Australia’s population. These disadvantages exist in a whole range of areas Including: • Health: Indigenous people suffer from a wide range of health problems including diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disorders and drug and alcohol abuse at much higher rates than other Australians.

5. Life expectancy: While life expectancy in Australia for males is 78.7 years and for females 83.5 years, for Indigenous Australians it is 59 and 65 years respectively. • Education: Indigenous Australians aged 15 years and over who have left school are half as likely (18 per cent) as non-Indigenous Australians (41 per cent) to have completed school. The literacy and numeracy skills gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, while improving, is still considerable. • Housing: Indigenous Australians are more likely to be renting: 63 per cent compared with 27 per cent for Australia’s population as a whole.

6. Post WW2 • The South Coast was a very popular holiday destination for ex-servicemen returning from World War II. The area had become known as the Gold Coast, possibly because of its golden beaches. There were rapid changes in the community towards the end of the 1950s and these have continued until the present day. • The following factors caused change in the community: • After World War II, people were generally more prosperous and had higher lifestyle expectations.

7. Roads were greatly improved in the area as the family car became more affordable. People from inland and further south travelled to the camping grounds, caravan parks, motels and, later, hotels and apartments. • Improvements in communications enabled many people to consult travel agents, who catered for the needs of the holiday maker. • During the 1980s, the Gold Coast became an established international tourist destination with the development of theme parks such as Dreamworld, Seaworld and Movie World. Japanese investment in high-rise buildings transformed the skyline of the city.

8. Effects of Change • The Gold Coast has experienced great change from the small communities before 1950. • Migration from within Australia and overseas has increased the population to over 500 000 in 2009, making it the sixth largest city in Australia. • The population has changed from almost all Anglo-Celtic to being more culturally diverse. • Wetlands have been drained to enable construction of canals and natural waterways have been altered to develop marinas.

9. The urban landscape has changed to one of major high-rise development in beachside locations. The Gold Coast has the highest residential building in the world: Q1. • Quality infrastructure, including a hospital and education facilities, has been developed and transport is greatly improved. • The Gold Coast has become a major tourist destination, attracting more than 10 million overnight and day-trip visitors. It hosts nearly 30 000 visitors each day; 92 per cent come from other areas of Australia and the remainder from overseas, including Japan, New Zealand and China. • A wide range of work opportunities has been developed.

10. Extension • Describe the scene in the 1950s photograph and in the 2004 photograph. • What are the main differences between the two photographs? Account for these differences. • Coolangatta in about 2004 • Coolangatta in 1952