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Gilston, Queensland facts for kids

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Gilston
City of Gold CoastQueensland
Gilston Public Hall at Gilston, Queensland.jpg
Gilston Public Hall, 2016
Gilston is located in Gold Coast, Australia
Gilston
Gilston
Location in Gold Coast, Australia
Population 2,669 (2021 census)
 • Density 280.9/km2 (728/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 4211
Area 9.5 km2 (3.7 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s) City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s)
  • Mudgeeraba
  • Gaven
Federal Division(s) Wright
Suburbs around Gilston:
Advancetown Nerang Highland Park
Advancetown Gilston Worongary
Advancetown Advancetown Tallai

Gilston is a lovely rural area located in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It's a place where people live in homes that feel like they're in the countryside, even though it's part of a bigger city.

In 2021, about 2,669 people called Gilston home.

Gilston's Location

Gilston is found in the City of Gold Coast. The western edge of this area is next to the Nerang River. This river is an important natural feature of the region.

Gilston's Past

People first started settling in Gilston in the 1860s. Back then, the main jobs were dairying (raising cows for milk) and cutting down timber.

A local shop owner, Mr. Bryant, gave the area its name. He named it after a place called Gilston in England.

Gilston State School's History

The first school in the area was called Nerang Upper Provisional School. It opened on June 1, 1881. In 1903, its name changed to Gilston Provisional School. Then, in 1908, it became Gilston State School.

The original school building was at 636 Gilston Road. It stayed there until 1985. By then, many more students were joining the school. So, a new school campus was built on Worongary Street. In 1996, people raised money to move the old school building to the new campus. This way, a piece of history was saved!

Early Communications

The first telephone office in Gilston opened in March 1923. This made it much easier for people to talk to each other over long distances.

Gilston Public Hall

The Gilston Hall is a special community building. People started raising money for it in March 1930. The hall finally opened on Friday, June 16, 1933.

Thomas Plunkett, junior officially opened the hall. He was a local politician who represented the area. The hall was built where an old Lutheran church used to be, at 471 Gilston Road. It was a large building, about 60 feet long and 30 feet wide, with a stage and dressing rooms. It became a central place for community events.

How Many People Live Here?

The number of people living in Gilston has grown a lot over the years.

  • In 2006, there were 575 people.
  • By 2011, the population grew to 1,449 people. That's almost 900 more!
  • In 2016, 2,459 people lived in Gilston.
  • And in 2021, the population reached 2,669 people.

Important Historic Sites

Gilston has some sites that are listed for their history. These are called heritage-listed sites. They are important places that tell us about the past.

  • Colliston, at 926 Gilston Road, is one of these sites. It includes the H2 Hinde Tree.

Learning in Gilston

Gilston State School Today

Gilston State School is a government primary school. It teaches students from Prep (the first year of school) up to Year 6. Both boys and girls attend this school.

The school is located at 588 Worongary Road. In 2017, about 599 students were enrolled. The school also has a special program for students who need extra support with their learning.

High School Options

There isn't a high school right in Gilston. Students who are ready for secondary school usually go to Nerang State High School. This school is in Nerang, which is a nearby area to the north.

Community Places

Gilston Public Hall and Park

The Gilston Public Hall is at 471 Gilston Road. It's right next to Gilston Hall Park. Many different community groups use the hall for meetings and events.

The Gold Coast City Council also runs a special service here. A mobile library visits the public hall every two weeks. This means people can borrow books and other materials without having to travel far.

Sports and Recreation

The Grand Golf Club

The Grand Golf Club has its entrance at 364 Gilston Road. Most of the golf course, however, is in the nearby area of Advancetown. You can get to it by crossing a bridge over the Nerang River.

This golf club is private. It has a 19-hole golf course. A famous golfer named Greg Norman designed the course.

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