Gold Coast Suburb Profile - Southport
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Southport
An inner city suburb of the Gold Coast City is the the centre of the Gold Coast business district with a mixture of small and large business, stretching across 4,000 business activities with over 8,000 registered businesses. It is also one of the Gold Coast's oldest suburbs and boasts a superb range of established gardens and giant leafy trees. Many regard Southport's residential areas as being the Gold Coast's Toorak / North Shore.
The streets are 'green scaped', the people are friendly, the sky is usually bright blue, the air is clean and the patrolled surf beach is 2 minutes away by car.
Many of Southport's 15,000 residents walk to work in the Southport commercial area and there is a very strong home-office-business component.
Southport is home to two of the Gold Coast's oldest public schools. TSS 'The Southport School' an all boys school with expansive grounds and riverfront position and St Hilda's Girl School a past provider of powerful local and state business leaders and politicians.
Southport's residences range from houses, villas, to small unit blocks providing low density living - a pleasant relaxed lifestyle well guarded by a loose network of local activists who come together when Southport's amenity is threatened.
Southport is rapidly becoming one of the Gold Coast's real estate development hot spots with 11 highrise buildings scheduled to be built during the next 12 - 18 months. These new high-rises such as Brighton On Broadwater and Pivotal Point are a mixture of residential and commercial buildings and can be seen at www.RealtyGoldCoast.com
Southport History
Richard Gardiner was the first European to settle in the area which was known as Nerang Creek Heads. In 1869, Gardiner built a home and a wharf at the river end of Queen St. Following Gardiner's lead, the Loder family joined him, then many others.
The village was renamed Southport in 1875 after the English seaside resort town. By 1890 the place had become the place for the social set, mainly due to its beautiful views and perfect weather. Beautiful one day, perfect the next. The tiny resort town flourished as the Council encouraged the development of kiosks, swimming baths, sideshow amusements and a theatre.
The Southport Jetty which was finished in 1880 and was a very important link as the steamers and cutters were still the main means of contact. During this burgeoning era some of the Gold Coast's landmarks were erected — The Southport School, St Hilda's which was known then as Goyte-Lea and the Court House.
Southport developed as the Gold Coast's central business district due to its accessibility to the seal and rail.
Southport Retirement
Trinity Gardens Aged Hostel
- Private, rental accommodation
- Meals provided
Southport Lodge
- 33 bed hostel
- rental and government approved
Southport Village
- 17, one bedroom free hold title units - from $125 000
- 53, two bedroom free hold title units - from $150 000
- 20 lease hold studio apartments - from $75 000
Villa La Salle Retirement Village
- Independent living
- 1 & 2 bedroom units - from $105 000 to $135 000
Golden Age Retirement Village
- High and low care
- Low rental and independent living units - 1 & 2 bedroom
Gold Coast Nursing Home
- 90 bed quality nursing home
- ACAT asessment required
Marana Gardens
- hostel
- 70 bed facility
Leamington Aged Care
- 80 bed facility
Southport Education
Primary Schools
- Southport
- Guardian Angels - Catholic
- Musgrave Hill
- Southport Special
High Schools
- Southport
- Keebra Park
Private Schools
- The Southport School (TSS) - Anglican all boys school with a GPS status. It ranges from preschool to year 12 and has boarding facilities. The primary and secondary schools are close by but on different campuses. The school boasts many ovals, tennis courts, cricket pitches, swimming pools and a new gymnasium
- St Hilda's School - Anglican all girls school, of QGSSSA (girls GPS equivalent) status. The school ranges from preschool to year 12 and has boarding facilities. The campus also includes a gymnasium, 50m olympic swimming pool, 25m pool, oval, 8 tennis courts and 7 netball courts.
Tertiary
- The Gold Coast Institute of TAFE
- Griffith University Gold Coast Campus
- Bond University - 15 minutes drive
Southport Recreation
Southport locals have access to many parks, dog parks and bikeways. They are also close to the Broadwater where there are water sports a plenty to indulge in. One favourite haunt of local's is the Southport Swimming Enclosure located opposite Australia Fair. This is a safe swimming area and is adjacent to a fantastic children's playground.
The Gold Coast Showgrounds holds many events and festivals throughout the year. The Gold Coast Show is a wonderful week of exhibitions, show bags, rides and ring events with fireworks ending each night of the show. Another annual event is the Big Day Out which features many Austalian and International bands.
Southport is also home to many sporting clubs and events. The Gold Coast Marathon runs through the streets of Southport during July and the Gold Coast Triathlon is held each February. The Southport Surf Lifesaving Club (SLSC) is a great club for little kids, teens and the elderly. To date the club has one a world championship, six Australian championships and 19 Queensland championships.
Click here to find out more about our Gold Coast Surf Lifesaving Clubs.
Southport is also home to the Southport Sharks, the Gold Coast's premier rugby team. The Sharks are really well supported and have a fantastic clubhouse and gaming area.
Southport Medical Facilities
Southport is the home to two of the major hospitals on the Gold Coast - Allamanda Private and Gold Coast Hospital. The area also is supported by various private practices, dentist clinics, radiology and pathology labs and chemists.
Southport Shopping
Australia Fair shopping centre is a multi level complex. The facility has everything - mens and ladies fashin, jewellers, supermarkets, pet sore, food courts, toy shops and the list continues. There is also Birch Carol and Coyle Senstadium cinema's which are very popular on Friday and Saturday nights. Close by is the Southport Mall which blends cafes and retail into one.
Further down the road, The Brickworks, is a great place to buy home wares and if you love outlet shopping, Trade Secret is a great place for affordable designer labels. Dispersed throughout the suburb there are small clusters of shops and corner stores - selling fruit and veg, magazines and hot chooks etc.
Southport Park is a great place to do the weekly groceries. As well as Woolworths the centre has Target, a camera shop, fabric shop, music store, Optus store, cafes and many more specialty stores. Most locals do their shopping here and it's not uncommon to meet up with old friends in the aisles of Woolies.
Southport Golf
Southport Golf Course is an 18 hole, par 71 course and it boasts some of the best short holes on the Coast.