Grand Hotel

While much of the Gold Coast shows little sign of its past before 1970, Coolangatta's town centre still has a lot of the charm of 1930s architecture.

The Spanish Mission style seemed to be all the range at that time (not surprising one supposes when one considers the similarity in climate) so when the timber Queenslander-style Hotel Grande (that's Grand with an 'e') had to be rebuilt after a fire in 1931, the archways and stucco walls figured in the architect design.

Apparently one of the finest establishments of its type between Brisbane and Newcastle (no mean feat since it represents a distance of about 700 kilometres), the Hotel Grande had its grand reopening in 1933.

Located across the road from the beach, The Hotel Grande was, according to the above 1954 Courier-Mail Queensland Annual advertisement, under vice-regal patronage - meaning that's where the Queensland Governor took his holidays.

And what's a holiday on the beach without a souvenir? Nick and Nora aren't claiming any vice regal provenance with this ash tray but it is a lovely picture to look at while you're stubbing out your cigarette.

Best of all, The Hotel Grande is still around. Click here for the Google satellite image.