Runaway Bay is a coastal suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2021 census, Runaway Bay had a population of 9,308 people.[1]
| Runaway Bay Gold Coast, Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bayview Harbour, 1989 | |||||||||||||||
  Runaway Bay | |||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 27°54′51″S 153°24′02″E / 27.9141°S 153.4005°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 9,308 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 1,258/km2 (3,258/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4216 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 7.4 km2 (2.9 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
| ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Gold Coast | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Broadwater | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Fadden | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
The neighbourhood of Anglers Paradise (27°55′24″S 153°23′56″E / 27.9233°S 153.3989°E) is situated within Runaway Bay.[3] It is the southern area of Runaway Bay developed before 1967.
Geography
editThe suburb is bounded by Poinsettia Avenue in the north, by Oxley Drive and Pine Ridge Road to the west, by Coombabah Road and Biggera Creek (27°55′30″S 153°24′22″E / 27.9249°S 153.4060°E) to the south. In the east, the suburb's boundaries extend into the Gold Coast Broadwater.[4][5]
Of the actual land surface, the land use is residential with the exception of the north-western corner of the suburb which is part of the Pine Ridge Conservation Park (27°54′00″S 153°23′34″E / 27.9000°S 153.3928°E) which extends north into Hollywell.[5]
Within its sea area, there is:
- Crab Island (27°54′13″S 153°24′42″E / 27.9036°S 153.4116°E), an undeveloped low-lying mangrove area
- Carters Bank (27°55′35″S 153°24′43″E / 27.9263°S 153.4119°E), a sandbank beyond the mouth of Biggera Creek.[6][7]
There is a bridge in the south-east of the locality across the mouth of Biggera Creek to the Lands End headland in Biggera Waters to the south.[5]
History
editIn 1939, Robert George Oates (as the Anglers Paradise Development Company) bought 350 acres (140 ha) of land along Biggera Creek (around Ocean Street) and the Broadwater (around Bayview Street). By mid 1950s, there was a town water supply and about 50 homes, both permanent residences and holiday homes.[8] In 1960 the construction of the bridge across the mouth of Biggera Creek to Lands End (then in Labrador) encouraged further development in the area.[9]
In 1967, the Lae Enterprises company bought 182 hectares (450 acres) of land north of Anglers Paradise along the western shore of the Broadwater. Development started in 1972 to transform the subdivision into a residential and boating area. The name "Runaway Bay" was coined to promote the area as a tranquil retreat.[10] Initially the name was rejected as an official suburb name, but it was used for the local post office, which led to it becoming the official suburb name.[2]
St Francis Xavier's Catholic School opened on 28 January 1975.[11] From that time until 1980, Catholic church services were held at the school by priests from the Southport parish. On 5 October 1980 a separate parish was formed with Father Basil Nolan as the first priest. The Holy Family Catholic Church opened in 1983.[12]
The Runaway Bay Library opened in 1992 with a major refurbishment in 2011.[13]
The Sports Super Centre was established in 2000 by runner Ron Clarke. In 2010 it was expanded to include an education program for schools. In 2011 it was sold to the Queensland Government.[14][15]
Demographics
editIn the 2016 census, Runaway Bay had a population of 9,068 people.[16]
In the 2021 census, Runaway Bay had a population of 9,308 people.[1]
Education
editSt Francis Xavier School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 160 Bayview Street (27°54′35″S 153°24′07″E / 27.9096°S 153.4020°E).[17][18] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 627 students with 36 teachers (31 full-time equivalent) and 34 non-teaching staff (24 full-time equivalent).[19]
Runaway Bay Sport and Leadership Excellence Centre is a government sports education centre on the corner of Sports Drive and Morala Ave (27°54′38″S 153°23′51″E / 27.9105°S 153.3975°E).[17][20]
There are no regular government schools in Runaway Bay. The nearest government primary schools are Biggera Waters State School in neighbouring Biggera Waters to the south and Coombabah State School in neighbouring Coombabah to the north-west. The nearest government secondary school is Coombabah State High School in neighbouring Coombabah to the south-west.[5]
Facilities
editRunaway Bay Police Station is at 190 Morala Avenue (27°54′43″S 153°23′52″E / 27.9120°S 153.3977°E).[21]
Runaway Bay Ambulance Station is at 2 Sports Drive (27°54′40″S 153°23′52″E / 27.9112°S 153.3977°E).[21]
Runaway Bay has its State Emergency Service facility off Sports Drive (27°54′41″S 153°23′45″E / 27.9113°S 153.3958°E).[21]
Amenities
editRunaway Bay Shopping Centre is in Lae Drive (27°54′46″S 153°23′59″E / 27.9129°S 153.3996°E).[22] Runaway Bay Post office is within the centre.[23]
There is a cluster of fast food restaurants on the corner of Lae Drive and Oxley Drive (27°54′45″S 153°23′20″E / 27.9126°S 153.3889°E).[24]
The Gold Coast City Council operates a public library in Lae Drive (27°54′41″S 153°23′57″E / 27.9113°S 153.3991°E) next to the community centre.[25]
Holy Family Catholic Church is in Simbai Street (27°54′32″S 153°24′04″E / 27.9090°S 153.4010°E) adjacent to the Catholic school.[22]
Natural amenities include Pine Ridge Conservation Park and numerous other parks:
- Anchorage Way roadside park, provides public access to the canal on the corner of Anchorage Way and Grand Canal Way (27°55′25″S 153°23′26″E / 27.9235°S 153.3905°E )[26]
- Anglers Park, a long park on the Broadwater foreshore along Anglers Esplanade (27°55′00″S 153°24′28″E / 27.9166°S 153.4077°E )[26]
- Biggera Park, a neighbourhood park accessed from Coombabah Road (27°55′32″S 153°23′42″E / 27.9255°S 153.3951°E )[26]
- Broadview Park, a long park on the Broadwater foreshore along Constance Esplanade (27°54′23″S 153°24′26″E / 27.9063°S 153.4071°E )[26]
- Joseph Schneider Park, a small park on the Broadwater foreshore on Joseph Street (27°54′14″S 153°24′11″E / 27.9039°S 153.4031°E )[26]
- Kogler Avenue Reserve, beach access to the Broadwater from Poinsettia Avenue (27°54′08″S 153°24′17″E / 27.9021°S 153.4046°E )[26]
- Len And Muriel Godlonton Reserve, undeveloped bushland on Limetree Parade (27°55′20″S 153°23′51″E / 27.9223°S 153.3976°E )[26]
- Limetree Junction Parklands, undeveloped bushland on Oxley Drive (27°55′21″S 153°23′13″E / 27.9225°S 153.3869°E )[26]
- Marina Crescent Reserve, parkland on Marina Crescent (27°54′08″S 153°24′15″E / 27.9023°S 153.4041°E)[27]
- Marina Park, parkland beside the marina at the end of Marina Crescent (27°54′02″S 153°24′13″E / 27.9006°S 153.4035°E)[28]
- Morala Reserve, canal access from Morala Drive (27°54′21″S 153°23′51″E / 27.9059°S 153.3976°E )[26]
- O'Connell Park, large park on Ocean Street with playground, barbeques and picnic facilities (27°55′31″S 153°23′56″E / 27.9253°S 153.3990°E )[26][29]
- Oxley Drive Park, green space beside Oxley Drive (27°55′07″S 153°23′18″E / 27.9187°S 153.3884°E )[26]
- Pacific Park, a long park on the Broadwater foreshore along Oatland Esplanade (27°55′20″S 153°24′24″E / 27.9222°S 153.4066°E )[26]
- Poinsettia Park, parkland beside the marina on Marina Crescent (27°54′08″S 153°24′12″E / 27.9022°S 153.4034°E)[30]
- Rollo Meyers Park, parkland on Poinsettia Avenue (27°54′09″S 153°24′16″E / 27.9026°S 153.4044°E)[31]
- Ryder Park, park with boat ramp into Biggera Creek on Ray Street (27°55′34″S 153°24′10″E / 27.9260°S 153.4028°E )[26]
- Shearwater Park, a large park on the Broadwater foreshore along Shearwater Esplanade (27°54′40″S 153°24′28″E / 27.9110°S 153.4079°E )[26]
- Stradbroke North Park, a small park beside Biggera Creek on Stradbroke Street (27°55′37″S 153°24′02″E / 27.9269°S 153.4006°E )[26]
- Thyme Court Reserve, green space beside Oxley Drive (27°55′00″S 153°23′18″E / 27.9166°S 153.3883°E )[26]
There are two boat ramps in Runaway Bay, both managed by the Gold Coast City Council:[32]
- on the north bank of Biggera Creek on Ray Street (27°55′33″S 153°24′14″E / 27.9257°S 153.4038°E)
- on the Broadwater at Howard Street (27°54′18″S 153°24′23″E / 27.9049°S 153.4063°E)
Sport and recreation
editThe Sports Super Centre is a premier sports training and events facility in the Gold Coast. Facilities accommodate athletics, cricket, AFL, netball, soccer and indoor sports. The sports centre in Lae Drive (27°54′33″S 153°23′50″E / 27.9093°S 153.3973°E) includes a stadium, sports medicine facility, gymnasium and Olympic aquatic centre.[33]
The suburb is also home to the Runaway Bay Junior Rugby League club, which was formed in 1974 after local residents met at the old Runaway Bay shopping centre with the intention of forming a club for kids to play sport.[34]
Bayview Harbour Yacht Squadron has a 2.2-hectare (5.4-acre) marina on Oatland Esplanade (27°55′25″S 153°24′23″E / 27.9237°S 153.4065°E) with access to the Gold Coast Broadwater.[35][36]
A number of well-known sporting teams represent the local area, including the rugby league team, the Runaway Bay Seagulls.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Runaway Bay (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Runaway Bay – suburb in City of Gold Coast (entry 46083)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "Anglers Paradise – neighbourhood in the City of Gold Coast (entry 613)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Biggera Creek – watercourse in City of Gold Coast (entry 2549)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Carters Bank – bar in City of Gold Coast (entry 49288)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "Crab Island – island in City of Gold Coast (entry 8641)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "NEW RESIDENTS WELCOMED". South Coast Bulletin. No. 1649. Queensland, Australia. 29 September 1954. p. 8. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Anglers Paradise". Gold Coast City Libraries. 29 December 2017. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "Heritage Tours – Runaway Bay". City of Gold Coast. 4 January 2005. Archived from the original on 9 September 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
- ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
- ^ "A Brief History". Holy Family Parish Runaway Bay. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "PYE DEPARTS GOLD COAST SPORTS SUPER CENTRE - Australasian Leisure Management". www.ausleisure.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "Centre History". Gold Coast Performance Centre. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Runaway Bay (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ a b "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "St Francis Xavier School". Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ "Runaway Bay Sport and Leadership Excellence Centre". Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ a b c "Emergency services facilities - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Building areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ "Runaway Bay Post Shop". Australia Post. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Fast food precinct" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Runaway Bay Library". Gold Coast City Council. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "Marina Crescent Reserve" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Marina Park" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "O'Connell Park". Gold Coast City Council. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Poinsettia Park". Gold Coast City Council. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Rollo Meyers Park" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Recreational Boating Facilities Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "Sports Super Centre – Introduction". Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
- ^ "Runaway Bay Seagulls – Club History". Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
- ^ "Marinas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ "Bayview Harbour Yacht Squadron". Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
External links
edit
- "Runaway Bay". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
- "Map of the Town of Anglers Paradise". Queensland Government. 1984.
