From desserts to dental practices, timeshare holidays to a tenacious telco, the first set of players on the Gold Coast Top Companies 2018 list shows the diversity at play in the city's transforming economy.  

Some have been around for decades, others for just a few years, but a common thread they share is a desire to carve out new opportunities and base themselves in one of Australia's most enviably located cities. 

41. Wadsworth Contracting

Whether it be the redevelopment of the Robina Town Centre on the Gold Coast or the construction of the Atria Buildings in Hamilton, Brisbane, Wadsworth Contracting has been there to provide its fit-out expertise.

Led by its managing director Brock Wadsworth, the Burleigh-based subcontractor specialises in commercial internal and external fit-outs and painting, and prides itself on its work for tier one commercial construction projects.

Other projects Wadsworth has been engaged in over recent years include a $25 million contract for Brisbane's 300 George St Hotel, an $18 million contract for the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and a $14 million deal for the WE01 and WE07 Williamstown RAAF Base.

As a family-run company with projects in Queensland and New South Wales, the company often takes on apprentices who are relatives of current employees with an emphasis on industry training. Read more

Nick Nichols et al - Business News Australia - 23 October 2018