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Direction marine left on the Gold Coast (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

southport

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'gold coast' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'direction marine left on' is the wordplay.
'direction' becomes 'south' (compass direction).
'marine left' becomes 'port' (left side of a ship - opposite of starboard. I am not sure about the 'marine' bit.).
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'south'+'port'='SOUTHPORT'

'the' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for southport that I've seen before include "Merseyside town" , "seaside resort" , "Lancashire resort" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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