Bar on the Goldie

The Gold Coast is Australia’s 6th largest – and most colourful – city with a resident population of approximately 650,000.

Despite the first magistrate being appointed on the Gold Coast in the early 1950s, it was not until the appointment of his Honour Judge John Mostyn Hanger in 1984 that the Gold Coast had a resident District Court judge, based in Southport.  The Court complement has grown and currently there are 3 resident judges: Judge Jackson KC, Judge Holliday KC and Judge Wooldridge KC. 

There are also 10 magistrates who are based at Southport. They are (in alphabetical order) Magistrates Bain, Bamberry, Bentley, Brunello, Goverdhan, Magee, Mitchell, O’Neill, Pink and Wilson.  There is a court house also at Coolangatta but no magistrate is permanently based there.

The Southport Court House is an impressive building, which has been extended over time. It has court and chambers’ accommodation for 6 judges and 13 magistrates, so there is provision for the likely expansion that will occur with Gold Coast population growth. 

No doubt, eventually, a permanent magistrate will be appointed at Coolangatta. We might even hope for a Supreme Court resident judge!

The Gold Coast has the service of 55 barristers who are listed on the Bar Association’s website with a Coast address as their primary contact.  They are of high quality in practice, and are well supported by the over 1,000 solicitors practising on the Coast.

After more than 20 years housing the largest contingent of barristers on the Coast, the Inns of Court at Southport recently was sold, following the appointment of long time Inns member, Sarah Thompson. Most of the barristers who called the Inns home are relocating; some to other parts of Southport and rest throughout the Gold Coast. 

The now largest chamber group is French Quarter Chambers, located at Emerald Lakes in Carrara. It comprises 11 barristers and is led by two silks, Philip Looney KC and Andrew Fraser KC. French Quarter provides arbitration and mediation facilities.

Bay Street Chambers is located near the Southport Court House. It harbours 2 members, Mick Eastwood and Gary Radcliff, each of whom has practised continuously for over 30 years. Bay Street also provides mediation facilities.

The other barristers practising on the Coast are dispersed from Coolangatta to Labrador, some practising from home. The Coast is also home to 4 employed members of the Bar.

The Gold Coast Bar Association is thriving and is expanding as members of the broader Association come to appreciate the benefits of practising on the Coast.  The Association’s annual conference held in May has been steadily growing in attracting attendance over the past 5 years.

With all these developments, and new opportunities for chambers on the Gold Coast, we anticipate even more barristers to be lured to the delights of the Goldie.