Origins of Broadbeach
The Kombumerri people first inhabited and utilized the river systems of the Logan, Albert, Coomera, Nerang and all the adjacent creeks and streams.

Sand mining commenced prior to World War II and during the war Broadbeach became an important sand mining area, the minerals within being used in the coatings of arc welding electrodes and in the production of alloy steels and for making smoke screens to protect shipping.

Mining stopped in the 1950’s and the dunes and foreshore were replanted with trees and grasses which subsequently became parkland.

The Emergence of the Sofitel Gold Coast
After the mining ceased in 1953, the Lennon’s Hotel organisation purchased a large site in the middle of an oasis of sand and commenced building. The six level hotel building contained a function room, guest suites and a swimming pool with shops and bars on the ground level.

As development, and therefore competition, increased at nearby Surfers Paradise in the 1980’s, the Lennon’s Hotel and site were sold and redeveloped. The Oasis Shopping Centre and the Pan Pacific Hotel were built on the site (which later became the Grand Mercure Hotel Broadbeach).

In 2005, The Grand Mercure Hotel and Oasis Shopping Centre underwent a $20 million upgrade to all 293 hotel rooms as well as all public areas and function rooms. The building was re-launched as the Sofitel Gold Coast.

There are over 180 Sofitel hotels and resorts globally, and Sofitel Gold Coast joins a network that includes the world's most prestigious business and leisure destinations including Paris, London, Rome, Athens, New York, Chicago, Marrakesh, Tokyo, Bangkok, Washington D.C., Montreal, Buenos Aires, Budapest, Shanghai and in Australia - Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and Brisbane.