The role of local government has changed. In the 19^th century, councils were hard pressed to develop a road system. Today, council responsibilities range from building and maintaining public infrastructure, encouraging economic development, caring for the environment to looking after public health, recreation and cultural development.

Council of the City of Gold Coast currently administers an area from the Albert River to the Queensland/New South Wales border. In the early days, a number of small councils managed local government responsibilities in this region.

The origins of local government in the Gold Coast region can be traced back to the 1870s when the Queensland Colonial Government delegated the responsibility of providing local services and raising revenue for their provision to a local government authority. On 11 November 1879, six Divisional Boards (renamed Shires on 31 March 1903) were proclaimed south of Brisbane: Tingalpa, Nerang, Coomera, Beenleigh, Waterford, and Tabragalba (later called Beaudesert).

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