History
The Coolangatta Hotel is situated on the beachfront of one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the name Coolangatta comes from an old aboriginal word for ‘pleasant outlook’.
Coolangatta is situated on the border of New South Wales and Queensland. Coolangatta is often looked at as a laid-back, surfer’s paradise with arguably the world’s 2 most exciting beach breaks, Duranbah and Snapper Rocks, playing host every year to the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro.
Coolangatta is also near championship golf links, sky diving, local rugby league, rugby union, AFL, and soccer clubs, and the famous Coolangatta Beach, a surfers paradise.
Coolangatta’s proximity to the Gold Coast Airport (5 minutes drive) has made it irresistible to tourists in an unrivaled sub-tropical climate with an average year-round temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and around 287 days of sunshine each year.
The Coolangatta Hotel was first built in 1910 and opened its doors in 1911 for proprietor Ada Tighe and quickly became a meeting place for all Tweed Shire locals. It was first named the Hotel Tweed but was promptly changed to The Hotel Coolangatta. Additions to the building structure were made in 1913, adding some 58 overnight rooms.
On June the 1st 1930, a memorable fire engulfed the Hotel Coolangatta destroying the Hotel and two adjacent buildings. In 1930, the Hotel Coolangatta was rebuilt on the original site in Marine Parade. The construction provided much-needed work for the locals amid a worsening depression. The new licensee, Jack Ajax, reopened the doors in 1931.
The Hotel soon became a halfway point for travelers and tourists alike. After the depression, families would come from everywhere and stay from 4 to 12 weeks at a time. The beer garden was a great meeting place for families.
In April of 1983, another spectacular fire engulfed the now-known Coolangatta Hotel. This fire happened in the early hours of the morning and took locals by surprise as the drama unfolded before them. Over $100,000 in damage was caused and a former barman was charged with arson. The new structure was then developed as stage 1 of a two-part construction process. The formerly known ‘Witan Building’ know known as ‘Showcase on the Beach’ was finished in 1988.
In 1988, the new Coolangatta Hotel opened its doors under the guidance of Billy Coo. In 1992, the hotel was on sold to Dilan Corp under the guidance of Ian Lancini, and again in April of 2001, the Hotel was sold to the Vinta Hotel group.
The Cooly Beach Culture consists of good times, a laid-back atmosphere, and great live entertainment encompassed with great views of the Pacific Ocean, including the famous break at Snapper Rocks. It has been a long summer tradition at the Coolangatta Hotel to spend your day at the beach and then cross the road for a cold beer and watch the sunset. The Coolangatta Hotel has also maintained its strong local heritage and roots in the local sporting, business, and the greater community.