I was just browsing through archive of my photos, and suddenly remembered the last time I visited Gold Coast and learn about
Meter Maid. My friends were telling me that the Meter Maids are there because in 1964 parking meter machines were introduced along the streets of tourist area in the Gold Coast and there was a worry that paid parking and parking fines would reduce tourist attraction; as an effort to make more tourists coming, a very smart promotion was created! Pretty girls in golden bikinis and a tiara were introduced. They would put coins into expired parking meter to stop the car owners to get fines. These girls are called the ‘Meter Maids’.
Until last year when I visited the Gold Coast, meter maids are still in operation even in some areas the parking machines have been changed with the ticketing system where drivers have to display the parking ticket inside the car on the dashboard and the girls will not be able to save you from fines if your ticket expired. To boost tourist attraction today ‘meter maids’ also sell little souvenirs for visitors to buy.
I think the meter maids are one of the important icons of the Gold Coast.
would you go golden bikinis girls?
[images from google]
