19 schoolies arrested on first night

A teenage girl was among 19 schoolies arrested during the first night of celebrations on the Gold Coast.

Police say the 18 males and one female were arrested for 23 offences, mainly for being drunk and public nuisances, although there were eight arrests for drug offences.

There were also 42 schoolies issued fines for drinking in public on Sunday.

Officers arrested 35 non-schoolies on 40 charges, mainly for public nuisance-type offences.

Three non-schoolies also received fines for public drinking.

"Generally police were pleased with the behaviour of schoolies, with only a small number of the large crowd coming to the attention of police," a Queensland Police Service statement said.

Up to 20,000 school leavers were expected to party at Surfers Paradise clubs and pubs on Sunday night.