Broadbeach, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Broadbeach Gold Coast, Queensland
Hedges Avenue, 2007
Broadbeach Location in Gold Coast, Australia
Population	6,786 (2021 census)
• Density	4,850/km2 (12,600/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4218
Elevation	13 m (43 ft)
Area	1.4 km2 (0.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	4.3 km (3 mi) SSE of Surfers Paradise 8.2 km (5 mi) S of Southport 82.8 km (51 mi) SSE of Brisbane CBD 27 km (17 mi) N of Tweed Heads
LGA(s)	City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s)	Surfers Paradise Mermaid Beach
Federal Division(s)	Moncrieff
Suburbs around Broadbeach: Broadbeach Waters Surfers Paradise Coral Sea Broadbeach Waters Broadbeach Coral Sea Mermaid Waters Mermaid Beach Coral Sea

Broadbeach is a lively suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. It's known for its beautiful beaches and fun attractions. In 2021, about 6,786 people lived here.

Geography

Broadbeach was once a coastal forest. Over time, it became sandy plains because of sand mining. Today, you'll see many low buildings, like houses and apartments.

A big part of Broadbeach has canal waterways. These include Lake Intrepid and connect to the Nerang River. The suburb also has a major road crossing where Nerang - Broadbeach Road meets the Gold Coast Highway.

History

Around 1924, land in Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach was sold. These areas were divided by a new coastal road.

In 1934, more homes were built in Broadbeach. But it wasn't until the Lennon's Broadbeach Hotel was built in 1955-1956 that the area really grew as a holiday spot. This hotel is now the site of the Oasis Hotel and Shopping Centre.

Broadbeach State School opened its doors on 16 May 1960.

Demographics

In 2021, Broadbeach had a population of 6,786 people. The average age was 46 years old. This is a bit older than the national average of 38.

Most people (54.1%) were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces were New Zealand (5.7%) and England (4.6%). About 70.1% of people spoke only English at home. The most common religions were no religion (38.1%) and Catholic (19.4%).

Heritage Sites

Broadbeach has some important historical places. One of them is a special sculpture.

Seal Sculpture

In 1954, an artist named Len Shillam made a sculpture for the pool at Lennon's Hotel. It was a life-sized seal with its baby, made of shiny terrazzo. This sculpture became very famous and many people took photos with it.

When the hotel was taken down in 1987, the sculpture was moved. It later went missing but was found at the bottom of a canal! It was rescued and fixed up. Now, you can see it at the entrance of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. This is close to where the old Lennon's Hotel used to be.

Aboriginal Burial Ground

In 1965, during building work, an Aboriginal burial ground was found. An archaeological dig began, led by Laila Haglund. The remains of over 150 Aboriginal people from the Kombumerri clan of the Yugambeh people were carefully moved. It was discovered that these people had been buried there for up to 1000 years.

In 1988, the remains were returned to the Gold Coast Aboriginal community. They were reburied near the original site. This event was very important. It helped create new laws to protect the cultural heritage of Indigenous Australians. These laws recognize that Indigenous Australians are the main guardians of Australia’s ancient cultures.

Education

Broadbeach State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located on Alexandra Avenue. In 2018, the school had 947 students. It also has a special education program.

There isn't a high school in Broadbeach itself. The closest government high school is Merrimac State High School in nearby Mermaid Waters.

Amenities

The Oasis shopping centre is a popular place to visit. It has over 100 shops and a Woolworths supermarket. You can also find many restaurants on Victoria Avenue, right across from the beach.

The Broadbeach Surf Life Saving Club helps keep the beach safe. For sports fans, the Broadbeach Australian Football Club plays at Merrimac Oval. You can also find the Broadbeach Bowls Club and the Broadbeach Surfschool, which offers surfing lessons.

Even though it's called the Broadbeach Library, the public library is actually in Mermaid Waters. It opened in 2008.

Broadbeach has many parks where you can relax and play:

• Broadbeach Park
• Cascade Gardens
• Federation Park
• Gold Coast Bulletin Centenary Park
• Herb Fennell & Noel Watson Memorial Picnic Area
• Kurrawa Park
• Mermaid Esplanade
• Moya Egerton Park
• Pratten Park
• Royal Queensland Art Society
• Victoria Park

Events

Broadbeach is famous for its fun events!

The Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival happens every May. It's one of Australia's biggest free blues festivals. It started in 2002 and brings in huge crowds each year. It's a free outdoor event for everyone to enjoy.

Broadbeach also hosts other great events like:

• The Groundwater Country Music Festival (in July)
• The Gold Coast Superhero Weekend (in April)
• The Broadbeach Christmas Carols

All these events are free to attend!

Attractions

The Oracle, 2013

Broadbeach is home to some major attractions:

• The Star Gold Coast (a large hotel and casino)
• The Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre (a big venue for events)
• The Oasis Shopping Centre (a popular shopping spot)

Broadbeach Alliance helps manage the area and organizes the yearly festivals.

You'll also see many well-known apartment buildings here. These include Sofitel Gold Coast, The Wave, The Oracle, and Jewel. The suburb also has many shops and restaurants to explore.

Transport

Broadbeach South G:link Station, located on the corner of Gold Coast Highway and Hooker Boulevard provides bus and tram connections.

Gold Coast Oceanway, 2015

Broadbeach is easy to get around. The Gold Coast Highway runs along the coast, connecting Broadbeach to other suburbs. Hooker Boulevard (which becomes Nerang-Broadbeach Road) links Broadbeach to the Pacific Motorway.

Broadbeach has bus services run by Kinetic Group. The G:link light rail has two stations in Broadbeach: Broadbeach South and Broadbeach. These connect the suburb to Surfers Paradise and Southport.

Broadbeach South bus station is a main hub. From here, you can catch buses to Gold Coast Airport, Nerang railway station, Tweed Heads, and Robina.

For walkers and cyclists, the Gold Coast Oceanway offers a path along the beautiful Broadbeach beaches.