The Gold Coast Museum was founded in 1972, on what is believed to be a former Aboriginal gathering place with middens. The heritage listed grounds with a remnant littoral rainforest and native vegetation, sits on one and a quarter acres. The Bundall Sugar plantation and mill was in the vicinity from 1872 until 1888 and the family members of those who worked at the mill have been buried with marked graves within the grounds.
The grounds were part of the ABC Open Garden Scheme in 2009.
The historical collection includes: Cable Station equipment from 1902; Paula Stafford Bikini Collection from the 1950s; artefacts from the Scottish Prince which was wrecked off Stradbroke Island in 1887; a large Aboriginal artefact collection; and some 2,500 objects, 1,500 photographs of the Gold Coast area. There are also archival records including old newspapers, maps, development plans and books of local interest and much more.
The museum also includes: Vincent Sheldon Artist Studio, which is heritage listed and was originally situated at Broadbeach; a replica of early settler Robert Veiver’s (1861) cottage, built in 1976; and buildings housing machinery and tools from the farming, sugar and timber industries from the mid 1800s.
