Preserving Our Surfing Heritage for Future Generations

Every surfboard has a story and every faded photograph, competition jersey, hand-shaped fin, magazine clipping, trophy, and handwritten letter represents a moment in Australia's rich surfing history. Together, these pieces tell the story of the people, places and passion that shaped our surfing culture.

At Surf World Gold Coast, we are proud custodians of one of Australia's most significant collections of surfing history. While visitors see the exhibitions on display, thousands of additional records, photographs, documents and artefacts are carefully being preserved behind the scenes

Now, we're taking the next exciting step.

Introducing Our Digitisation Project

Over the coming months, Surf World Gold Coast will begin an exciting digitisation project designed to preserve our collection for generations to come.

This project will see our team progressively catalogue artefacts, scan historic photographs and documents, digitise loan agreements and collection records, and create a modern digital archive that will strengthen the long-term care of our collection.

Digitisation is about far more than simply scanning documents. It creates a secure record of our collection, helps safeguard irreplaceable historical material, and allows us to better manage and share the stories behind each item.

Proudly Supported by Bendigo Bank

This exciting project has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Community Bank Tugun – Bendigo Bank.

Their commitment to preserving our local heritage is helping Surf World Gold Coast build a modern digital archive that will protect our collection for future generations. Through their support, we are introducing new technologies and systems that will enable us to better catalogue our collection, preserve invaluable historical records, and create more engaging experiences for visitors.

We are incredibly grateful for their investment in our museum, our volunteers, and the preservation of Australia's surfing history. Partnerships like this ensure that the stories of our surfing pioneers continue to be protected, celebrated and shared for generations to come.

Bringing History to Life

As part of this project, we'll also begin introducing QR codes throughout the museum.

Imagine standing beside a historic surfboard and instantly discovering the surfer who rode it, watching archival footage, hearing first-hand stories, or exploring additional photographs and information—all from your own phone.

This technology allows us to tell deeper stories than traditional display labels ever could.

It also opens exciting new opportunities for school groups, researchers, visitors and surfing enthusiasts from around the world to engage with Australia's surfing heritage in new and interactive ways.

Powered by Volunteers

Like everything at Surf World Gold Coast, this project is being driven by an incredible team of passionate volunteers

Many hours of careful work go into documenting each artefact, researching its history, photographing collections and ensuring information is preserved accurately. It is meticulous work, but it is incredibly rewarding.

Every volunteer plays an important role in protecting our shared surfing history.

Looking Ahead

Digitisation is not something that happens overnight. It is a long-term investment in preserving the stories that make our museum so special.

As the project grows, we look forward to sharing behind-the-scenes updates, showcasing fascinating discoveries from the archives and our head curator Peter Harris,plus revealing some of the remarkable stories hidden within our collection.

Our goal is simple: to ensure that the history of Australian surfing is not only preserved, but shared, celebrated and enjoyed by future generations.

We invite you to follow our journey as we continue to preserve the past while embracing the future.

Together, we're ensuring that the stories of Australia's surfing pioneers continue to inspire for many years to come.

Behind the Collection

Behind every artefact is a story. Behind every story is a community helping to preserve it.

Surf World Gold Coast - The Museum of Surfing

Preserving our surf and beach culture. Sharing the Stoke

We are thrilled to be among the successful recipients of the Community Bank Tugun 2026 Community Investment Program.

This grant support will help our team deliver some exciting new improvements to Surf World Gold Coast, including much-needed upgraded exhibit lighting and the next stage of our digitisation project which will bring Surf World's collection to life in new and engaging ways.

Through exciting digital content, including archival imagery, photography, videos, and oral histories of our surfers from both the men's and women's archives as well as the shapers, makers, image producers, cultural icons, contests, characters, visitors to the museum will be able to explore the stories behind not only the objects and history, but also discover the diverse layers of Australia's rich surfing and beach culture heritage.

Together, these projects will enhance visitor experiences while helping to build and preserve valuable historical records and digital content for future generations, expanding Surf World Gold Coast's collection of magnificent displays into a modern, interactive storytelling experience.

As a volunteer-run community museum, support like this makes a genuine difference. It helps us continue to grow, improve the visitor experience, and protect an important part of Australia's surfing history.

Thank you to Community Bank Tugun for investing back into the local community. We look forward to bringing these projects to life and extend our warmest congratulations to all the other successful recipients.

Surf World Gold Coast was invited by Councillor Gail O'Neill to celebrate the relaunch of the Rusty Chook, held at Coolangatta State School.

In attendance were Surf World, Kirra Longboarders Club, Kirra Surfriders, MP Laura Gerber, and Councillor Gail O'Neill.

The replica Rusty Chook attracted plenty of attention, with visitors checking out the Surf World display, taking photos, and speaking with the brother of the artist who constructed the iconic Kirra Eagle many years ago.

It was a great event with strong attendance, with live music and a sausage sizzle keeping the crowd entertained throughout the day.

A big thank you to everyone who supported this event, and special thanks to Surf World staff Rod Brooks, Glenn Schafer, Bill Schloer, Tony Ashburn, and David Riek for representing Surf World on the day.

Marty Tullemans documented Australian surfer like no other over four decades from the early '70s through to the 2000s, from from the original Cooly Kids, Rabbit Bartholomew, Michael Peterson and Peter Townend to their modern day heirs, Mick Fanning, Mark Occhilupo,Joel Parkinson and Dean Morrison, and a cavalcade of great surfers in between. 

Come and marvel at Marty's astonishing archive as we trawl through the highlights, from PT's iconic soul arch to a grommet Jason Buttenshaw locked in a crystalline cavern, to Neal Purchase Junior's trademark backhand blasts. With a lineup of Gold Coast surfing luminaries on hand to provide colourful running commentary, this will be a celebration of Marty's life and legacy not to be missed.

Saturday February 27th 

Doors and Bar open 6PM

Tickets $10 available via Eventbrite 

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-best-of-mtvz-celebrating-the-iconic-photography-of-marty-tullumans-tickets-139831532879?aff=website

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SurfWorld is very proud to have been involved with Surfing Services Australia and their Currumbin Wildlife Hospitial Fundraiser at Currumbin Alley
The fundraiser brought together a host of celebrities including
Joel Parkinson,Occy,Bede Durbridge Dean Morrison and Lincoln Lewis

On the day there were Surf lessons and Beach yoga plus a bunch of other family fun activities,all helping to raise funds for our wildlife injured in the devastating bushfires and all proceeds going directly to support our world class Currumbin Wildlife Hospital
Also lending her support was Division 14 - Cr Gail O'Neill, pictured below with Surfworld Chairman Daryl Barnett and Rod Brooks

Due to the overwhelming success of the Wildlife Fundraiser it is now scheduled to become an annual event!

Congratulations to Surfing Services Australia and in particular Bianca Richardson for organising such a wonderful day

SurfWorld is stoked to announce that we will be joining in with Burleigh Brewing on Saturday 4th of April for the - Burleigh Surf:Craft, A community celebration of the hand-made surfboard - at the Burleigh Brewing Taphouse from 3:00pm - 8:30pm.

The judges this year will be Surfworld's Patron Peter Harris and Master Shaper Richard Harvey , also on the panel are the Burleigh Surf:Craft 2019 winners - Dale Wilson and Yoshiro Takeda

Pictured below - Peter Harris [with son Nathan],Richard Harvey,Dale Wilson and Yoshie Takeda.

Hosted by Jed Smith and Vaughan Blakey of AIN'T THAT SWELL, Burleigh Surf Craft will showcase some of Australia's finest surfboard craftsmanship. We will bring the community together to talk story, show builds and really make some noise about the proud history of creativity and innovation that defines the Australian surfboard.

For all the details and a list of all the surfboard shapers showcasing their craft on the day- follow the link below

https://www.facebook.com/events/222323315571573/

Surf World is very proud to announce that we will be joining in with Burleigh Brewing on Saturday 4th of April for the - Burleigh Surf Craft, A community celebration of the hand-made surfboard - at the Burleigh Brewing Taphouse from 3:00pm - 8:30pm.

The judges this year will be Surf World's Patron Peter Harris and Master Shaper Richard Harvey, also on the panel are the Burleigh Surf Craft 2019 winners - Dale Wilson and Yoshiro Takeda

Pictured below - last year's winners Dale Wilson and Yoshie Takeda.

Hosted by Jed Smith and Vaughan Blakey of AIN'T THAT SWELL, Burleigh Surf Craft will showcase some of Australia's finest surfboard craftsmanship. We will bring the community together to talk story, show builds and really make some noise about the proud history of creativity and innovation that defines the Australian surfboard.

For all the details and a list of all the surfboard shapers showcasing their craft on the day- follow the link below

https://www.facebook.com/events/222323315571573/

Everyone is welcome to this free event and make sure that you vote on the day to go in the draw to win an awesome Takeda Customs hand made 70's inspired surfboard ⚡️🍻

Dick van Straalen Ian Byrne Rod Brooks Daryl Bean David Riek Jye Byrnes
Neal Purchase Jnr Luke Daniels Mitch Surman
Weare Surfworld Willy Nicholls Surfin Muse

Surf World management and volunteers are saddened by the news of the passing of Bob Cooper one of our true surfing pioneers. Many stories have been written about Bob and his exploits and his life has been extensively covered in magazines and books so Surf World has asked their founding chairman Mal Sutherland - who knew him well to write a short personal eulogy to him.

I met Bob in 1959/60 on his first trip to Australia. Scott Dillon had told me that American surfer Bob Cooper was in Sydney and was coming to Coolangatta and would I make him feel welcome. It's funny when I think about it but my first words to him when we met were "are you the Bob Cooper who is featured in Surfer Magazine". From that point we became friends and on both his first and second visit we explored the then isolated surfing locations in northern NSW and had many memorable trips to Byron Bay – one especially with Joe Larkin comes to mind.

When we were travelling we would always let Bob enter the café's first and order his bannnana, hooney and nut sandwich to see the shocked reaction on the assistants faces – this was an unheard of combination in Australia at the time.

It was during those trips that I came to realise what a deep thinking and caring person Bob was, not only about his surfing but in the way he treated other people. To give an instance – I was involved with Paul Witzig doing poster distribution and some PR for Bruce Browns' Barefoot Adventure and had to pick Paul, Bruce and Phil Edwards up from their motel for the first showing of the movie at the Capitol Theatre and was unable to take Pat so Bob offered without any hesitation or embarrassment to escort her to the movie – Pat was 8 months pregnant at the time.

When he returned to Australia to live permanently we lost contact for a time only occasionally catching up at the Stubbies or Noosa Festival.

In 2009 I was asked by the GCCC Art Gallery to stage an exhibition of my photos titled Surfing in the 60s – A Journey of Discovery so I contacted Bob to ask him to be on the panel on opening night to give an Americans' view of what it was like in that era. Bob accepted without hesitation and travelled down from Noosa at his own expense to appear with Phylis O'Donnel and Joe Larkin.

This exhibition led to the formation of the steering committee that formed Surf World Gold Coast.

Bob may you RIP and enjoy an unending supply of banana ,honey and nut sandwiches.

Mal Sutherland

Sun's out and the Groms are FROTHING for the first Surf lesson of the morning at SURFING SERVICES Surfing Services Australia WILDLIFE FUNDRAISER + Family Day happening at the beautiful Currumbin Alley with plenty of fun to come with more surfing lessons and beach Yoga thru the day, So come on down and support our world class Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation Currumbin Wildlife Hospital who are doing an incredible job treating our native wildlife bushfire survivors 

There's facepainting for the micro groms, mega raffles including free passes to SurfWorld and BBQ sizzles till 12, plus Special Guests @Markocchilupo @linc_lewis @bededurbo Joel Parko Dean Morrison are all getting in on the fun with these perfect learner conditions right now at the beautiful Currumbin alley! Yeww!

@markrichosurfcoach Peter Harris Daryl Bean
Rod Brooks @surfgroms_ @life_synergy @currumbinsanctuary @gonap.baby @sumptuousfinefoods @hotgossip_burleigh Surfin Muse @finchswim Bianca Richardson Angela X Collins David Riek @lincoln Lewis official

What a GREAT way to HELP our AUSSIE WILDLIFE and have a SURF and do some BEACH YOGA all at the same time !! + Raffle prizes to win

#Repost from SurfingServices Surfing Services Australia'Wildlife Fundraiser' Family Fun day
This Friday 17th January
from 6am at @surfingservicesaustralia Currumbin Alley
Surfing lesson +Yoga
OR
Join us for
BBQ breakfast & support with a Raffle ticket with your chance to WIN

⭐️1st prize private CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE HOSPITAL TOUR Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation for you +3 friends with our World champion surfers Joel Parkinson, Occy , Bede Dubidge & Dean Morrison with their families.
Includes Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary 4 entry day tickets too.

⭐️2nd prize
- Paul Ward 'Wardy Surfboards' Signed by all our special guests - URBNSURF pool Voucher for 2 people - JETPILOT Wetsuit - @kingbrown pomade essentials - Finch Swim swimwear voucher

⭐️3rd prize Signed Maywoodsurf Handcrafted Handcrafted Wooden surfboard Signed by all our special guests - Sisstrevolution wetsuit - JETPILOT Clothes pack

⭐️ 4th prize Signed @wardysurfboards grom board (@tyricho_ ) Signed by all our special guests - @sisstrevolution wetsuit - @jetpilotcompany Clothes pack

with ALL the proceeds directly to CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE HOSPITAL for distribution for our Australian wildlife healing, rehabilitation and protection ❤️🐨
CONTACT www.surfingservices.com.au to sign up for the fun

Special guests Joel Parko Mark Occhilupo Bede Durbidge Dean Morrison
@linc lewis @ candice nixon
so come down and enjoy the family fun day ✌🏼
SurfWorlds Peter Harris Daryl Bean Rod Brooks
Raffle details start friday. Drawn 31/1/20 @finch swim Sumptuous Fine Food Finch Swim @surfworldgoldcoast

This coming October 12th join Shane Stedman of Shane Surfboards at Surfworld Gold Coast for the launch of his one and only self published book,
"The Shane Gang" - : Surviving the sixties, surfboards, sex, drugs, rock and roll, and ugh boots"

Shane Stedman is a surfing industry trailblazer from the 1960s, Brookvale Sydney where he created the famous Shane Gang label.

He blended surf culture with the pop music social scene together with his iconic logo and surfboards to become one of the most highly recognisable brands in Australian Surfing History

Stedman was a fashion statement, a hugely successful businessman, musician, and the creator of the sheepskin boots known as Ugh boots.

A commentator, surf reporter, and a lovable larrikin who took his popular label to the Gold Coast in 1970. This was managed by champion surfer and shaper Richard Harvey who signed up local Gold Coast talent Tony Eltherington

Don't miss this one off evening where Shane talks candidly about his life,his many adventures and some of the many characters he has met along the way,accompanied by a slide show and book signing

Date: Saturday October 12th : Upstairs Deck opens from 5pm
With Gourmet Hot Food being served up by Leesa and her incredible team at Sumptuous Fine Food, Icy cold beers from the crew at Gage Roads Brewing Co,and also available a selection of wines and non alcoholic beverages 🍻
Tickets $10 available from Surfworld front desk and via Eventbrite-

Surfing's Elder Statesmen Nat Young and Bob McTavish, the Gurus of the shortboard revolution, are coming to Surf World Surf Museum Currumbin on Saturday 14th of September.

Nat who was the 1966 World Champion will be signing copies of his latest book "Church of the Open Sky "and will be joined by good friend Bob McTavish to share stories about those heady days and how they reshaped surfing from traditional to modern approach.

This is Surf World's 7th function for the year. The ever-popular Surf World raffles have a stack of prizes to go off. Drinks and Mexican food will be available at affordable prices.

Doors open at 5pm. tickets via Eventbrite or at the door. Don't miss this night of Super Legends Yew!

Surf World is extremely honoured to present one of the all time greats of surfing Peter Drouyn, allowing Peter to tell his history and the stories involved.
Peter is one of the Gold Coast's greatest and most influential surfing champions, multiple Australian Title Holder in Opens and Juniors, World Title Finalist, and the creator of the Man On Man competition format that is still being used today in world tour events.

As well as an 'in conversation' with Peter, there will be a screening of the Bob Evans Surfmovie 'Drouyn and Friends' a movie of legendary cult status ,full of exotic wave destinations and epic surfing, all wrapped up in a soundtrack that crystallised the 70's surf travel experience.

To compliment the nights bohemian surf festivities there will be a selection of gourmet hot food from Sumptuous Fine Food and cold beers from Gage Roads Brewing Co along with a selection of wines,ciders and non alcoholic beverages.

The upstairs Deck at Surfworld will be open from 5 pm and tickets are $10 + available via the Eventbrite link below there will also be a limited amount of tickets available at SurfWorld. Event date :Saturday July 27th Doors open 5pm!

Tim has written books on world surfing champions such as Rabbit Bartholomew, Mark Occhilupo, and Mick Fanning.

Tim Baker will be presenting his latest best seller "The Rip Curl Story" - 50 years of perfect surf at Surf World Gold Coast
Award winning surf writer and prolific book publisher Tim Baker will be presenting his latest best seller The Rip Curl story at Surf World Surf Museum Currumbin Gold Coast on Saturday 11th May 2019 from 6pm.

Tim has written books on world surfing champions such as Rabbit Bartholomew, Mark Occhilupo, and Mick Fanning. He with be joined by Rip Curl co-owner the legendary Doug " The Claw" Warbrick.
Claw and his fellow surfing partner from Victoria, Brian " Singding" Singer established the privately owned Wetsuit and Surfboard manufacturing company at Torquay back in 1969. Rip Curl recently celebrated their 50th Anniversary at this years annual Easter Rip Curl Pro.

Entry for Surf World's third function of the year is $10.00, food and beverages will be available.