Queensland
Photo Gallery

Queensland Road Photo Gallery:
State Route 2: Gold Coast Highway

The Gold Coast Highway has an interesting history as it was once the Pacific Highway and the main route between Brisbane and Sydney, before the highway was rerouted west of Currumbin and suburbs further north.

Pacific Hwy / Pacific Mwy route through the western edge of the Gold Coast wasn't opened until the 1970s and north of the Gold Coast to Brisbane, the Pacific Mwy follows roughly the same original Pacific Hwy route. Entering Brisbane the Pacific Hwy ended and the main artery became Logan Rd, however we are only looking at the section of road from Tugun (corner of Pacific Motorway and Highway) through to Helensvale (Pacific Motorway).

The route was originally signposted as National Route 1 back in the days numbers were being allocated (1950s) and eventually changed to Alternate National Route 1 before conversion to State Route 2 in 1997.

Length:
33 km
Route Numbers:
formerly
Information courtesy of Lachlan Simms and Sam Laybutt (ozroads.com)
Advance Directional Sign
Eastbound AD sign located on Duringan Street at Currumbin. 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

ID Signage
Intersection directional signs at the junction with Duringan and Tomewin Streets at Currumbin, 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Tomewin Street Junction
Northbound at Currumbin as you approach the Tomewin St intersection, this is also the road used to access the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Estuary Bridge
Northbound over Currumbin Creek at Currumbin, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

AD Signs
Advance directional sign assembly, southbound on the Gold Coast Highway as you approach the junction with Thrower Drive. 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign
AD sign as you approach the Gold Coast Highway at Palm Beach on Thrower Drive, 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Approaching Palm Beach Avenue
Northbound through the Palm Beach shopping strip, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Northbound at Palm Beach
SR2 trailblazers as you head north through Palm Beach. This photo is somewhat representative of typical road conditions in the area. March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

23rd Avenue Approach
Southbound approaching 23rd Avenue at Palm Beach, 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Northbound at Palm Beach
Heading through the northern reaches of the Palm Beach area as you approach Tallebudgera Drive, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Southbound at Tallebudgera Drive Junction
Palm Beach, 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Tallebudgera Creek
Northbound over Tallebudgera Creek at Burleigh Heads, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Climbing up Burleigh Ridge
Northbound as you pass Burleigh Ridge Park at Burliegh Heads, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Burleigh Heads
Northbound near Goodwin Terrace, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

West Burleigh Road Junction
Heading northbound past the intersection with West Burleigh Road, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

West Burleigh Road Junction
Heading southbound at the intersection with West Burleigh Road, 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

West Burleigh Road Junction
Heading southbound at the intersection with West Burleigh Road, 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

West Burleigh Road Junction
Heading southbound at the intersection with West Burleigh Road, 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Northbound at Burleigh Heads
Northbound as you pass Fourth Avenue and through the pedestrian signals. March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Miami CBD
Northbound as you approach Toombul Avenue and Kratzman Avenue at Miami, as you pass through the shopping strip. March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Old Style Signals at Miami
Nice specimens of the old hooped overhang signals that were once very common on the Gold Coast, northbound as you approach the Katherine and Sixth Avenue intersection, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Typical view through Miami
Average road conditions in the Miami area, with the Q1 building in the distance, northbound March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Markeri Street Approach
Looking northbound through the Mermaid Beach shopping precinct, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Pedestrian Signals
Northbound at Mermaid Beach as you pass by Glenelg Avenue and Venice Street. Note the unusual use of a pedestrian crossing sign on the left signal mast. March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Approaching Hooker Blvd
Northbound at Broadbeach as you approach the junction with SR90, Hooker Boulevard. March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Hooker Blvd Junction
Northbound as you pass through the intersection of Hooker Boulevard and Margaret Avenue. March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign
Northbound RD sign after the Hooker Boulevard intersection at Broadbeach, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

St Kilda Avenue Intersection
Passing through St Kilda Avenue at Broadbeach, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Welcome to Surfers Paradise
Official sign indicating you entered Surfers Paradise, Northbound March 2006. Note the Q1 building (with the spire) in the background, the tallest residential tower in the world.

Image © Paul Rands

Gold Coast Highway
Southbound view of SR2 at Surfers, taken from the 77th floor observation deck of the Q1 building. March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

SR24 / SR2 intersection
Looking down from Q1 over the Via Roma (SR24) intersection at Surfers Paradise, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Wahroonga Place & Remembrance Drive (SR2)
Northbound past the highrises on the section of the Gold Coast Highway locally named Remembrance Drive. Surfers Paradise, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Palm Avenue Intersection
Northbound through Surfers as you cross Palm Avenue, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign
AD sign for the intersection with Ferny Avenue and access to Main Beach, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Ferny Avenue Intersection
Northbound at Main Beach as you pass the junction with Ferny Avenue, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

AD Sign
Advance directional sign as you approch the intersection with Tedder Avenue at Main Beach, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign
Northbound RD sign as you head towards the Gold Coast Bridge at Main Beach, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Gold Coast Bridge
Northbound over the Gold Coast Bridge at Southport, constructed around 1964 (opened to traffic in 1967) to replace the Jubilee Bridge (opened in 1925) that used to run east-west from Queen Street Southport to Main Beach Parade at Main Beach, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Ada Bell Way
Northbound as you pass through the intersection with Ada Bell Way (SR20) at Southport, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign
Northbound at Southport as you pass the directional sign for access to Marine Parade, which was once the highway, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign
RD sign as you head north through Southport, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign
Large AD sign as you approach the turn to Smith Street (SR10) at Southport, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Smith Street Intersection
Heading north along the Gold Coast Highway as you pass through the Smith Street intersection at Southport, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Loders Creek
Heading north over Loders Creek at Labrador, this is the last single carriageway two-lane section of the Gold Coast Highway, all other sections are at least 2 lanes each way. March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Dual Name Distance Sign
RD sign as you head north at Labrador near Marine Parade with both the local road name and official name, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Northbound at Labrador
Typical road conditions as you pass through the Labrador area, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Northbound at Labrador
Approaching the Broad Street / Marine Parade intersection as you move north through Labrador on Frank Street (SR2), March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Brisbane Road Junction
Still on the Gold Coast Highway at Labrador, through traffic turns left here, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Brisbane Road Junction
Still on the Gold Coast Highway at Labrador, through traffic turns left here, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Approaching Babbage & Cabarita Streets
Northbound at Labrador outside the Labrador Park Shopping Centre, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Southbound at Biggera Waters
Approaching the SR4 / Olsen Avenue & Oxley Drive intersection near Harbourtown Shopping Centre, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Harbourtown Drive & Breton Drive Junction
Signals for the local light industrial area and also Harbourtown Shopping Centre at Biggera Waters, southbound, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Approaching Pine Ridge Road & Captain Cook Drive
Southbound at Biggera Waters, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Approaching Arundel Drive
Southbound as you approach the intersection with Arundel Drive at Coombabah, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Entering Coombabah
Southbound on the dual carriageways past the wetlands and conservation area, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign
AD sign as you approach the intersection with Discovery Drive and Town Centre Drive, near the Westfield Shoppingtown at Helensvale, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Eastern View at Helensvale
Heading towards the town centre at Helensvale, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

M1 Pacific Motorway Interchange
Heading east over the M1 motorway at Helensvale, the northern terminus of the Gold Coast Highway, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

M1 Pacific Motorway Interchange
Heading east over the M1 motorway at Helensvale, the northern terminus of the Gold Coast Highway, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

East Approaching the SR2 / M1 Interchange
Heading east on Binstead Way at Gaven as you approach the start of the Gold Coast Highway, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands