Palm Beach, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Palm Beach Gold Coast, Queensland
View of Palm Beach, with Gold Coast in the background
Palm Beach Location in Queensland
Population	16,349 (2021 census)
• Density	2,595/km2 (6,720/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4221
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Area	6.3 km2 (2.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	19.2 km (12 mi) S of Surfers Paradise 92.2 km (57 mi) SSE of Brisbane 12 km (7 mi) NW of Tweed Heads
LGA(s)	City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s)	Burleigh
Federal Division(s)	McPherson
Suburbs around Palm Beach: Burleigh Heads Coral Sea Coral Sea Elanora Palm Beach Coral Sea Elanora Currumbin Waters Currumbin

The shoreline at Palm Beach looking north to Burleigh National Park and Surfers Paradise

Palm Beach is a beautiful coastal suburb located in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It's known for its sandy shores and relaxed atmosphere. In the 2021 census, about 16,349 people called Palm Beach home.

Exploring Palm Beach's Location

Palm Beach is a long, narrow area right on the coast. It has natural borders that make it special.

Natural Boundaries

To the north, you'll find Tallebudgera Creek. The sparkling Coral Sea is to the east, perfect for swimming and surfing. In the south, it's bordered by Currumbin Creek. To the west, the Pacific Motorway runs alongside it.

Cleanest Beach Award

Palm Beach has been named Queensland's cleanest beach three times! This shows how much people care about keeping it beautiful.

Unique Layout and Features

The suburb was divided into blocks for building homes by the mid-1950s. It's interesting because it stretches across both sides of the main highway. Streets are named from First to Twenty-Eighth Avenue, starting from the south.

Some of the oldest and simplest beach "shacks" are found on Jefferson Lane. These small homes are on land now worth millions of dollars! This area might even be older than the official subdivision.

Newer parts of Palm Beach have been added to the west. These areas include some canal developments, where homes have direct water access.

Creek Entrances and Reefs

Both Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creeks have special walls built in the 1970s. These "training walls" help keep the creek entrances stable. The creeks are also dredged every year to keep them clear.

Close to the shore, there are "bait reefs" where small fish gather. Further out, there are larger fishing reefs. These are some of the best fishing spots on the Gold Coast.

Parks and Holiday Spots

Laguna Lake is a lovely spot in the southwest of Palm Beach. You can enjoy the outdoors at Elizabeth Sloper Gardens park around its edges.

At the northern end, the Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park offers holiday accommodation. It's a popular place for families to stay. Next to it is the Tallebudgera Recreational Camp. This national fitness camp hosts children from all over Queensland.

Protecting the Coastline

To protect the beach, there are structures like the training walls at the creek entrances. There are also small "groynes" (rock walls) at 11th and 21st Avenues. These help manage sand movement.

The Gold Coast Oceanway is a path along the beachfront. However, in Palm Beach, much of the beachfront is privately owned. This means the path isn't always as good as in other areas. Sometimes, unusual weather can cause sand to wash away. This erosion has even caused some beachfront houses to lose parts of their yards.

A Look Back at Palm Beach's Past

Palm Beach has a rich history, with many important buildings and clubs opening over the years.

Early Churches and Clubs

The first church in Palm Beach was the Palm Beach Baptist Church. It opened on December 8, 1928, on Ninth Avenue. The original building was replaced in 1969. Later, in 2000, the church moved to a new location in Reedy Creek.

The Palm Beach Surf Club was started in 1930. It helps keep swimmers safe at the beach.

Schools and Libraries

Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School welcomed its first students on January 24, 1972. Palm Beach State School opened a couple of years later, on February 4, 1974.

The Palm Beach Library opened in 1998. It was updated in 2011. In early 2021, the library changed to a smaller "library kiosk" instead.

Awards for Cleanliness

Palm Beach was recognized as Queensland's Cleanest Beach in 1999, 2000, and again in 2011. This award comes from the Keep Australia Beautiful Council.

Uncovering History

In 2011, extreme beach erosion happened. This unusual event revealed old rusted car bodies and other items. These items were usually buried deep under the sand.

Who Lives in Palm Beach?

The number of people living in Palm Beach has grown over the years.

• In the 2016 census, there were 14,654 people.
• By the 2021 census, the population had increased to 16,349 people.

Places of Historical Importance

Palm Beach has one special heritage site:

• Currumbin Creek (28°08′12″S 153°28′20″E / 28.1367°S 153.4723°E / -28.1367; 153.4723 (Currumbin Creek Railway Bridge)): This is the site of the former Currumbin Creek Railway Bridge. It was part of the old South Coast railway line.

Learning in Palm Beach

Palm Beach offers several great schools for students of all ages.

Primary Schools

Palm Beach State School is a government primary school for students from Preparatory to Year 6. It's located at 13-19 Nineteenth Avenue (28°06′39″S 153°27′47″E / 28.1107°S 153.4631°E / -28.1107; 153.4631 (Palm Beach State School)). The school also has a special education program.

Students living in the southern part of Palm Beach can also attend Currumbin State School in Currumbin.

High Schools

Palm Beach Currumbin State High School is a government secondary school. It teaches students from Year 7 to Year 12. You can find it on Thrower Drive (28°07′54″S 153°28′27″E / 28.1316°S 153.4742°E / -28.1316; 153.4742 (Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School)). This school also offers a special education program.

For students in western Palm Beach, Elanora State High School in Elanora is another option.

Outdoor Education

The Tallebudgera Outdoor and Environmental Education Centre is at 1525 Gold Coast Highway (28°05′55″S 153°27′31″E / 28.0985°S 153.4586°E / -28.0985; 153.4586 (Tallebudgera Outdoor and Environmental Education Centre)). This center provides outdoor learning experiences.

Community Facilities and Services

Palm Beach has several important places that serve the community.

Library and Local Office

The Gold Coast City Council runs a small library kiosk on Eleventh Avenue. In the same building, you'll find the office of the local Councillor for Division 13, Cr Josh Martin.

Surf Life Saving Club

The Palm Beach Surf Club is located at 117 Jefferson Lane. It provides important surf lifesaving services to keep beachgoers safe. The club also has dining facilities. Since it was established in 1930, there has never been a drowning in its patrolled beach areas.

Churches

Our Lady of the Way Church Catholic Church is at 14 Eleventh Avenue (28°07′00″S 153°28′08″E / 28.1166°S 153.4689°E / -28.1166; 153.4689 (Mary Mother of Mercy Catholic Church)). It is part of the Burleigh Heads Catholic Parish.

Getting Around Palm Beach

Palm Beach has good transport options, making it easy to travel around.

Roads

The Gold Coast Highway runs through the eastern part of the suburb. It passes by the main shopping center and restaurants. The Pacific Motorway is on the western side.

Palm Beach Avenue connects the Gold Coast Highway to the Motorway. It also links to the nearby suburb of Elanora. Nineteenth Avenue also continues into Elanora.

Public Transport

Palm Beach is served by Translink bus services. Translink is part of the Department of Transport and Main Roads. They operate the Go card ticketing system across South East Queensland.

The closest bus interchange is at The Pines, Elanora. Three frequent bus routes run through Palm Beach along the Gold Coast Highway:

• Route 765: Travels from Robina Town Centre to The Pines, Elanora.
• Route 700: Connects Broadbeach South to Tweed Heads, New South Wales.
• Route 777: Goes from Gold Coast Airport to Broadbeach South.

Future Light Rail Plans

There are plans to extend the Gold Coast light rail. It will go from Burleigh Heads to Tugun along the Gold Coast Highway.

As of November 2023, the first study for Light Rail Stage 4 was finished. Stage 3 of the light rail (from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads) is currently being built. It is expected to be ready by 2025. Stage 4 (Burleigh Heads to Tugun) is expected to start construction soon after Stage 3 is completed.

Sports and Fun Activities

Palm Beach is a great place for sports and recreation, especially water activities.

Life Saving Clubs

The Neptune Royal Life Saving Club was the first club in Australia just for females. It still helps patrol the Tallebudgera Creek estuary. It's the only club on the Gold Coast not part of Surf Life Saving.

Palm Beach is also patrolled by the Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club at 7th Avenue. The Pacific Surf Life Saving Club is near 19th Avenue.

Local Sports Clubs

Palm Beach has many local sports clubs for different interests:

More to Explore

• List of Gold Coast suburbs