Gold Coast Emerged as Australia’s Most Welcoming City for Business

WORDS: Ocean Road Editorial Staff PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied

A thriving hub of innovation, talent and global ambition — where lifestyle, opportunity and industry growth now intersect

For generations, the Gold Coast has been a place that sparks ideas. Entrepreneurs arrive, look around, and instantly see possibility. It happened in the 1970s when visionary John Longhurst flew over the Coast and imagined Dreamworld. It continues today with business leaders, innovators and global creatives choosing the city as their base not simply for lifestyle, but for growth, ambition and opportunity.

That same spirit of possibility led Longhurst’s son, Rodney, to purchase luxury boat builder Riviera Australia in 2012. Today, the company operates from one of the southern hemisphere’s most sophisticated marine manufacturing facilities in Coomera. For Longhurst, the logic remains simple: the Gold Coast offers an unbeatable environment to attract and retain talent, surrounded by natural beauty and a culture that supports innovative thinking.

It’s a pattern repeated across the city. The Gold Coast’s $49.4 billion economy has evolved well beyond its tourism and construction foundations. It is now home to globally recognised advanced manufacturers, world-class health and medical innovators, education and research institutions, a thriving marine sector, and one of the nation’s fastest-growing creative industries.

Mark Girard, CEO of Invest Gold Coast, says the mix is no accident. “The Gold Coast understands premium markets. You see it in our marine export industry and in companies like Gilmore Space that are literally launching Australia’s first rockets. Once you’re here, the business case is obvious.”

The city’s momentum gained even further traction following COVID, attracting a new wave of residents, founders and professionals seeking a more balanced, flexible and dynamic place to live and work. Among them were Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin and their production team, including Schuyler Weiss who were so impressed by the Gold Coast’s film expertise and depth of creative talent that they moved their global headquarters here. Their latest collaboration with Invest Gold Coast, the Miami Arts Depot, will transform a former council depot into a contemporary creative precinct.

But the Gold Coast is not only attracting creative talent. It is rapidly emerging as a centre for innovation, particularly in technology, bioscience and advanced manufacturing. “We have one of the most energetic and diverse start-up communities in Australia,” Girard says. “This ecosystem has grown because people genuinely want to be here. Our role is to help accelerate that momentum.”

Part of that acceleration includes the launch of Southern RNA, the Australian sister company of Canadian immunotherapy pioneer Northern RNA, which is designing bespoke cancer treatments. Investments like this highlight the city’s shift toward globally relevant, high-value industries.

Supporting this transformation is Invest Gold Coast, established by the City of Gold Coast in 2025 to drive investment attraction and economic growth. Its mandate is straightforward: make it faster and easier for business to succeed. The organisation works with industry to provide quick, clear decisions either a fast “no” or a strong, well-resourced “yes”. When the answer is yes, the support extends far beyond financial incentives, drawing on local government, state partnerships, research capability and industry networks to make projects viable.

The organisation’s agility is strengthened by its independent board, which includes leaders such as former Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman, Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page and Cromwell Property Group’s Gary Weiss. Their commercial expertise helps Invest Gold Coast work at the same pace as private investors, something Girard says businesses consistently value.

“When people consider relocating from Sydney or Melbourne, they quickly realise the Gold Coast gives them everything they need to operate at scale, three universities, two international airports within an hour, a population nearing 700,000, and a cost and lifestyle advantage that’s impossible to ignore.”

In addition to direct investment support, Invest Gold Coast’s in-house economic research team provides the data and insights that ensure the city targets industries that bring the greatest long-term value and create high-skilled jobs. The goal is deliberate: build a resilient, diversified economic base that supports global competitiveness.

As the city prepares for greater international attention in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics, business confidence continues to rise. The Gold Coast is now recognised as a maturing business hub with the depth, capability and ambition to match any major Australian city, while offering a superior lifestyle that attracts talent effortlessly.

Rodney Longhurst puts it simply: “The Gold Coast has come of age. It’s a place where businesses can genuinely thrive.”

For those ready to invest, innovate or relocate, the Gold Coast is a city that continues to say yes.

Partner with Invest Gold Coast: www.investgoldcoast.com – [email protected]