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Sovereign Islands, Queensland facts for kids

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Sovereign Islands
Gold CoastQueensland
Sovereign Island (Huge Homes with Big Boats) - panoramio.jpg
Sovereign Islands
Sovereign Islands is located in Gold Coast, Australia
Sovereign Islands
Sovereign Islands
Location in Gold Coast, Australia
Postcode(s) 4216
Location
LGA(s) City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s) Broadwater
Federal Division(s) Fadden

The Sovereign Islands are a group of islands found in the Southport Broadwater. They are located near South Stradbroke Island and are part of the Paradise Point area. This area is in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. These islands were created by changing two older islands, Andys Island and Griffin Island, into a special community with canals.

Where are the Sovereign Islands?

The Sovereign Islands are made up of six islands that are all connected. You can find them at the northern end of the Southport Broadwater. A bridge links these islands to the main land at Paradise Point. South Stradbroke Island sits to the east, protecting the islands from the big waves of the Pacific Ocean.

How the Islands Were Made

In 1988, a company started to develop two small islands called Andys Island and Griffin Island. These islands used to be covered in mangroves. The plan was to turn them into a group of six islands. This new area would be a special community with homes built along canals. These homes would have places for boats right outside, with easy access to Moreton Bay.

To create these islands and the waterways for boats, a huge amount of sand was pumped in. It was about 1,400,000 cubic metres of sand! Andys Island and Griffin Island were likely named after local people who collected oysters. In 1987, the official name "Sovereign Islands" replaced the old names.

What Makes Sovereign Islands Special?

Sovereign Islands is known for having some of the most expensive homes in Australia. Many houses there are worth millions of dollars. For a while, around 2011, house prices on the islands went down. This happened because of a big worldwide economic event that affected many places.

Living on Sovereign Islands

The homes on Sovereign Islands are owned completely by the residents. This is called "freehold property." However, people living there pay a yearly fee, which is about $2600. This money helps pay for security and keeps the parks nice. The roads on the islands are made of bricks, and there are street lights and palm trees lining the wide streets.

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