The real story...
The original and best - "The Surfers Paradise Meter Maids"
This
page will be frequently updated with articles about the truth and
real history of the Meter Maids from 1964 to present.
The
Surfers Paradise Meter Maids were introduced in 1965 by Bernie Elsey
to help beat the bad image created by the installation of parking
meters on the tourist strip in December 1964. This was a controversial
promotion, using young women dressed in gold lame bikinis and tiaras,
who strolled the streets of Surfers Paradise feeding coins into
expired parking meters, and leaving a calling card under the windscreen
wipers.
In
1967, the Gold Coast was battered by cyclonic seas smashing into
our coastline, so the then Major, Sir Bruce Small, along with the
Meter Maids went on a campaign trail promoting the Gold Coast to
Australia, getting people back to the beaches and our beautiful
holiday resort. Within weeks the idea had attracted national and
worldwide publicity and the Meter Maids became the spearhead of
many a promotional drive throughout Australia and New Zealand. This
was one of the best known gimmicks and probably the best known Gold
Coast promotion.
Gone are the outdated tiaras, replaced by the sun-conscious and
true Aussie Akubra hat ideal for our tropical climate, while Gold
Lycra Bikinis with the occasional sequin have replaced the traditional
lame bikini and even the traditional form of financing the service
has taken a new turn. In
the past a weekly contribution of a few dollars was paid by each
local business as part of their community service but in this commercially
competitive era, sponsors are expecting public profile and positive
media exposure in return for their dollar.
The real story...
The
Surfers Paradise Meter Maids were introduced in 1965 by Bernie Elsey
to help beat the bad image created by the installation of parking
meters on the tourist strip in December 1964. This was a controversial
promotion, using young women dressed in gold lame bikinis and tiaras,
who strolled the streets of Surfers Paradise feeding coins into
expired parking meters, and leaving a calling card under the windscreen
wipers.
In
1967, the Gold Coast was battered by cyclonic seas smashing into
our coastline, so the then Major, Sir Bruce Small, along with the
Meter Maids went on a campaign trail promoting the Gold Coast to
Australia, getting people back to the beaches and our beautiful
holiday resort. Within weeks the idea had attracted national and
worldwide publicity and the Meter Maids became the spearhead of
many a promotional drive throughout Australia and New Zealand. This
was one of the best known gimmicks and probably the best known Gold
Coast promotion. 
