the main exceptions were sydney and the gold coast, queensland where apartment development continued for more than half a century. in sydney a limited geography and highly sought after waterfront views (sydney harbour and beaches such as bondi) made apartment living socially acceptable. while on the gold coast views of the ocean, proximity to the beach and a large tourist population made apartments a popular choice. since the 1960s, these cities maintained much higher population densities than the rest of australia through the acceptance of apartment buildings.