Kings Beach has served as a vital sanctuary for queer communities for at least fifty years, with documented gay activity dating back to the 1930s. The beach played a particularly poignant role during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, hosting memorials and serving as the final resting place for the ashes of many who died during the epidemic.
For decades, it has been a rare space where LGBTQIA+ individuals could gather openly, free from judgment and discrimination.
The heritage listing application was lodged by married couple Rohan Anderson and Jonathan Lee, who themselves met at Kings Beach more than a decade ago.
Despite the beach’s storied past, the NSW Heritage Council determined that Kings Beach “did not meet the threshold” for heritage listing, according to a spokesperson for Heritage NSW. No further reasons were provided to the applicants.
The rejection stands in contrast to recent heritage recognitions of LGBTQIA+ sites in NSW, such as the Imperial Hotel, which was added to the heritage list for its role in gay Australian history.
Locals and advocates argue that the decision ignores the beach’s unique cultural significance. Anderson described being left out of the site’s official history as “outrageous,” stating, “They just don’t want us there. They see us as a problem, other than as a community to celebrate”.
Many hoped state recognition would help protect Kings Beach as a vital refuge, especially as government regulations have increasingly threatened its status.
Earlier this year, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) began enforcing a non-optional clothing policy at the beach, erecting signage and patrolling the area. After a backlash from the community and lobbying to Heritage Minister Penny Sharpe, the policy was reversed and the alert removed from the NPWS website.
Calls for Continued Recognition
Despite the setback, campaigners are not giving up. They continue to press for official recognition of Kings Beach’s LGBTQIA+ history, arguing that the beach is more than just a nude bathing spot—it is a crucial gathering place for a community that often lacks other safe spaces in the region.
“This is so much more than a nude beach. This is where we go to meet our people and our community. It’s not like there’sgay bars in the Northern Rivers.... You can’t just tell us that we don’t exist, with the stroke of a pen. Queer people have always had to fight for their right to exist”
Anderson said.
Although the heritage bid has failed for now, locals report that Kings Beach is being frequented “more than ever,” and organisers vow to continue lobbying for its recognition and protection. The fight to preserve Kings Beach as a celebrated part of Australia’s queer history is far from over.
