Miami ice works, Gold Coast Highway, 2006. Photographer Bill Chivers
During World War II military camps were established near Miami, Burleigh Heads and at Kirra.
At the end of the war many of these army buildings were left abandoned and, with good quality building materials in short supply, the local community were quick to see the value of the timber and fibro structures left behind by the army.
After the end of World War II two recycled army huts were used for the construction of the Miami Ice works which opened in 1947 on Kratzmann Avenue in Miami near North Burleigh Beach.
At the time of construction, Miami had few commercial premises with the 1949 Post Office directory mentioning the ice works, two motor garages, one storekeeper and the Miami Hotel in the immediate area.
The signage along the length of the Gold Coast Highway became well known and the Miami Ice building with its mural of a sun wearing sunglasses, known as Mr Sunny, was a popular site for photographers. In 1988 John Farnham used the ice works as a backdrop to the music video for his song ‘Two Strong Hearts’.
Aerial view over Miami Ice and the Outrigger Resort, 2005. Photographer Graham Weeks
After many decades of ownership, in 2013 the Grevis family sold the property. Despite a number of campaigns to preserve the building, the machinery was removed and the buildings were demolished in November 2013.
Sources of information and further reading
- http://queenslandplaces.com.au/miami
- http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/thegoldcoast/miami-history-2653.html
- http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/11/07/3886269.htm
- Tor Hundloe, Bridgette McDougall, and Craig Page (Editors). The Gold Coast Transformed: from wilderness to urban ecosystem. Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing, 2015.
- ANDREW, POTTS. “Miami Ice to see you again.” Gold Coast Bulletin, The 16 Dec. 2015: 6. Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre Plus. Web. 28 Oct. 2016
