Queensland’s Gold Coast the New ‘Home of the Arts’

The Gold Coast City Council has unveiled the first major project at the 17-hectare Gold Coast Cultural Precinct, a double-sided amphitheatre with capacity for hosting 5,000 people.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate also announced that the precinct will be known as HOTA – Home of the Arts.

An international design competition was held in 2013, attracting more than 75 entries, with ARM Architecture and German landscape architecture firm Topotek 1 appointed.

The $37.5 million stage one cultural project is located just a short walk from Surfers Paradise at Evandale has the amphitheatre as its centre piece.

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The amphitheatre’s stage is 20 metres wide from wall-to-wall and 1.4 metres high and includes a 5.5 tonne bi-fold proscenium door. The structure, which took around two years and over 1500 workers to build, is framed by a 100-tonne self-supporting screen to protect performers from sun and glare. It is centred on more than 1.5 hectares of landscaped lawns with a full theatrical fit out.

The stage features a living green roof, comprising of more than 20,000 plants selected and suited to the climate, conditions and locality.

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The next stage of construction, scheduled to begin in mid-late 2018, will be a new green bridge across to Chevron Island which will be followed in late 2018 by a new Art Gallery. Once built, it will be the largest regional art gallery in Australia.

Also announced was the first outdoor program at HOTA commencing in March featuring a number of well-known performers, collaborations and local talent.

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