Kinkabool, Heritage residential building in Surfers Paradise, Australia
Kinkabool is a ten-story residential building built with reinforced concrete in modernist style on Hanlan Street in Surfers Paradise. Each apartment includes north-facing sun decks, built-in wardrobes, private laundries with washing machines, and kitchens fitted with modern appliances from the 1960s era.
Built between 1959 and 1960, this structure marked a turning point as the first high-rise apartment building on the Gold Coast. It signaled the beginning of vertical development in a region previously characterized by low-rise construction.
The name comes from an Aboriginal language and means 'laughing water', reflecting an early attempt to connect modern architecture with Indigenous heritage. This cultural choice became part of the building's identity in the rapidly developing coastal landscape.
The building is centrally located in Surfers Paradise and easy to reach on foot. Visitors can appreciate the exterior and public-facing areas, though the interior spaces are private residences.
The interior spaces retain characteristic 1960s details including maple wood stairs and foyers with terrazzo floors and mosaic tiles. These crafted elements remain uncommon to find in preserved condition and offer insight into the quality finishes of that period.
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