Mermaid Beach, Tower 25

Mermaid Beach is well-known for its surf breaks, attracting all skill levels. But thanks to its idyllic atmosphere, it was once a haven for the young and the topless to enjoy the relaxed coastal lifestyle. So relaxed, in fact, that in the 1950s and 1960s Mermaid Beach was home to one of Queensland’s first nudist colonies, the Unclad Mermaids. The colony at Mermaid Beach briefly contributed to the nudist phenomenon—perhaps partially because the participants never had to worry about any towers or binoculared lifeguards. But back in 1989, when Australia adopted a formal surveillance plan, fortyfive towers like this began popping up possibly inspired by the amount of skin being revealed along these  shores.

This delightful tower is a suitable shade for its placement on the Gold Coast. Today, Mermaid Beach’s lifeguard service retains 37 permanent and 140 seasonal staff members, patrolling the beaches year-round. Like many areas on the Gold Coast, Mermaid Beach has experienced significant development and growth over the decades. As it is now a sought-after stretch of property, the beach shacks have been replaced by high-rises, and (presumably to the benefit of the lifeguards’ attention span) all mermaids are required to be at least clad in seashells.

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