Johan Meyer

Who was Johan Meyer?

Johann Heinrich Casper Meyer was a German immigrant to Queensland and a pioneer of the Gold Coast region.

Johan Meyer acquired James Beattie's land at Narrowneck, on the Gold Coast in 1877, initially developing a sugar plantation and sugar mill. Seeing the opportunity for business success in catering to the accommodation needs of the regular visitors to the beaches of the Gold Coast, he then started the private ferry service, referred to as the Meyer's Ferry, and the Main Beach Hotel. In 1888, Meyer's family operated a coach service from Southport three times a week, that crossed the river at the ferry, taking passengers down to the main surf beach.

His Main Beach Hotel became a postal receiving office in 1889 which was officially called Elston. In 1893, the hotel burned down and was only partially covered by insurance. During the 1890s, Johan Meyer's business went into decline and he faced financial ruin.

Johann Meyer died at the Southport Railway Station on Friday 18 October 1901. After his death, services lapsed and the area began to decline until the arrival of James Cavill in 1925.