Copy from Wikipedia
New page
{{bdm}}
{{About|the Australian suburb of Southport|other uses|Southport (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Australian place | type = suburb
| name = Southport
| city = [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]
| state = Queensland
| image = GoldCoastDawn.jpg
| caption = The [[Gold Coast Broadwater]] at dawn
| lga = [[Gold Coast City]]
| est = 1874 <ref name="sohi"/>
| postcode = 4215
| pop = 28,315
| pop_year = 2011
| pop_footnotes = <ref name="census11">{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC31512 |name=Southport (State Suburb) |accessdate=17 January 2013 |quick=on}}</ref>
| stategov = [[Electoral district of Southport|Southport]]
| fedgov = [[Division of Moncrieff|Moncrieff]]
| dist1 = 73
| location1= [[Brisbane]]
| near-nw = [[Parkwood, Queensland|Parkwood]]
| near-n = [[Labrador, Queensland|Labrador]]
| near-ne = [[Main Beach, Queensland|Main Beach]]
| near-w = [[Molendinar, Queensland|Molendinar]]
| near-e = [[Main Beach, Queensland|Main Beach]]
| near-sw = [[Ashmore, Queensland|Ashmore]]
| near-s = [[Bundall, Queensland|Bundall]]
| near-se = [[Surfers Paradise, Queensland|Surfers P'dise]]
}}
'''Southport''' is a suburb and the central business district near the midpoint of the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], [[Australia]] and has one of the city's largest communities. At the [[Census in Australia#2006|2011 Census]], Southport had a population of 28,315.<ref name="census11"/>
Originally known as '''Nerang Creek Heads''' it was named Southport because it was the southernmost port of the colony of Queensland.<ref name="sohi">[http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/thegoldcoast/southport-history-2749.html Southport History]. Gold Coast City Council. Retrieved on 17 January 2013.</ref> Southport is recognised as the [[central business district]] of the [[Gold Coast City]]. It has the city's largest area of office space at 103,818 m². In the past, Southport was the central entertainment location of the Gold Coast. In current times it is set apart from the normal tourist hub of the Gold Coast. However, it has still experienced tourist-driven development and extraordinary growth. Southport has 18 [[high-rise]] towers either completed, under construction or awaiting commencement.
==Demographics==
In the 2011 Census the population of Southport is 28,315, 51.5% female and 48.5% male.
The median/average age of the Southport population is 36 years of age, 1 year below the Australian average.
55.2% of people living in Southport were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were New Zealand 7.3%, England 4.3%, Korea, Republic of 2.9%, China 2.7%, Japan 1.7%.
69.8% of people speak English as their first language 3% Korean, 2.7% Mandarin, 2% Japanese, 1.4% Arabic, 1.1% Cantonese.
==History==
[[File:StateLibQld 2 67276 Kiosk and jetty at Southport, Queensland.jpg|thumb|Kiosk and jetty at Southport, Queensland]]
[[File:Queensland State Archives 1165 Surfing at Southport December 1930.png|thumb|Bathing in 1930]]
A settlement was first surveyed in 1874 and the name Southport decided the following year.<ref name="sohi"/> Southport was once the site of [[Sawmill|timber mills]]. A [[port]] was established to ship logs to [[Brisbane]]. Cutting timber opened up the area for settlement. Early rural industries included sugar growing and livestock grazing.
In 1883, the first [[Southport Pier, Gold Coast|Southport Pier]] was built to allow steamships to bring cargo and passengers to Southport.<ref name="sjtr">{{Cite news |url=http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/01/22/41655_gold-coast-news.html |title=Southport jetty to rekindle memories |author=Melissa Townsend |accessdate=31 May 2012 |date=22 January 2009 |work=goldcoast.com.au |publisher=News Limited }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3424550 |title=OPENING OF THE NEW JETTY AT SOUTHPORT. |newspaper=[[Courier-Mail|The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933)]] |location=Qld. |date=30 November 1883 |accessdate=4 June 2013 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
By 1901 [[Federation of Australia|Federation]] Southport had become a tourist seaside spot and had a permanent population of 1230. The [[South Coast railway line, Queensland|South Coast railway]] from [[Beenleigh railway station|Beenleigh]] to [[Southport railway station, Queensland|Southport]] opened in 1889 and closed in 1964.<ref>''Southport Station in the Later Years'' Milne, Rod [[Australian Railway History]], April, 2004 pp 142–148</ref> A ferry service - the Myer's Ferry connection – ferried passengers to [[Main Beach, Queensland]] and a horse and buggy service linked the area to [[Surfers Paradise, Queensland|Surfers Paradise]]. Tourism continued to expand in the first half of the 20th century. The construction of the Jubilee Bridge in 1925 between Southport and Main Beach replaced the ferry service and facilitated further growth.<ref name="gghf">{{cite book |title=Gold Coast:Our heritage in focus |last=Longhurst |first=Robert |year=1995 |publisher=[[State Library of Queensland]] |location=South Brisbane, Queensland |isbn=0-7242-6563-5 |pages=29—30 }}</ref> A cement [http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?tabs=detailsTab&ct=display&fn=search&doc=slq_digitool67276&indx=5&recIds=slq_digitool67276&recIdxs=4&elementId=4&renderMode=poppedOut&displayMode=full&frbrVersion=&dscnt=0&scp.scps=scope%3A%28QS%29%2Cscope%3A%28slq_digitool%29%2Cscope%3A%28SLQ%29%2Cprimo_central_multiple_fe%2CEbscoLocal&frbg=&tab=default_tab&dstmp=1354152965198&srt=rank&mode=Basic&dum=true&vl(126868199UI1)=all_items&vl(1UIStartWith0)=contains&vl(freeText0)=southport%2C+queensland&vid=SLQ&vl(D45500790UI0)=any jetty] was built in 1914 at Southport.
[[File:Southport QLD ANZAC Park 20111107-statue.jpg|thumb|ANZAC memorial, 2011]]
On 25 April 1922 ([[ANZAC Day]]) Southport War Memorial located at the foot of Nerang Street was dedicated by the [[Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly]] for [[electoral district of Albert|Albert]], [[John Appel]], in a presence of many Southport people.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20536138 |title=SOUTHPORT WAR MEMORIAL. |newspaper=[[Courier-Mail|The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933)]] |location=Qld. |date=26 April 1922 |accessdate=6 April 2014 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In 2010, renovation of the parklands required the relocation of the memorial; it was re-dedicated on 11 November 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Southport War Memorial|url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/92536-southport-war-memorial|publisher=Monument Australia|accessdate=5 April 2014}}</ref>
In 1927, the Pier Theatre which included a cafe and indoor golf course was built on the jetty. A fire destroyed the structure in 1932 but it was rebuilt and open to the public for nearly forty years.<ref name="gghf"/>
By the 1950s, Southport was the central entertainment location of the Gold Coast. It was also the administrative centre, with a central business district.
==Landmarks==
[[File:Sea World aerial.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Sea World]] was opened in 1971]]
[[File:Southport Courthouse.jpg|thumb|Southport Courthouse]]
[[File:Luxury yatchs - Gold Coast, QLD.jpg|thumb|[[Gold Coast Broadwater]] marina with apartments in Southport]]
The area of coast facing Southport is known as the Broadwater. The Broadwater houses the Southport Yacht Club and a number of marinas. The area is used for fishing, boating, and watersports. It is fronted by park lands which are a popular area with locals. Located opposite Southport on the Broadwater is the theme park [[Sea World]]. Although the Broadwater water is suitable for swimming, it is only 6 minutes from [[Surfers Paradise, Queensland|Surfers Paradise]] which features high quality beaches and infrastructure including a permanent life guard station. Southport is also bordered by the [[Nerang River]].
[[Australia Fair Shopping Centre]], located in the old Southport CBD, is a large indoor shopping centre containing 233 stores and a Senstadium Cinema. It was established in 1983 on the site of the former milk factory and is home to the [[Australia Fair Bus Station, Queensland|major northern bus interchange]] for the Gold Coast. The opening of the Southport strip mall (the old CBD, located adjacent to the shopping centre) to low-speed through traffic has been a controversial local decision.
The [[Gold Coast Hospital]], the only public-only hospital on the Gold Coast, is located in Southport. The surrounding area has been substantially redeveloped, and now includes a number of private medical practices. In 2005, [[Griffith University]] commenced teaching dentistry and medicine at a new building on land adjacent to Gold Coast Hospital. The state government has announced that a new Gold Coast Hospital will be constructed opposite the main [[Griffith University]] campus at [[Parklands, Gold Coast|Parklands]]. Plans for the existing hospital site are not yet clear, but general speculation is that it will become a private hospital.
The Southport Branch Library is located on the Corner of Garden & Lawson Streets. It was previously located on the top floor of the Australia Fair Shopping Centre. The Southport Branch Library was completed in 2002 and is one of 14 branches of the City's library. Upstairs in the same building is the Local Studies library which includes the City's historical collection of materials including documents, photographs, films, advertising and iconic objects and memorabilia.
[[St Hilda's School]], which was founded in 1911, is located opposite the Hospital and is the only all-girls school on the Gold Coast. Southport is home to [[The Southport School]], which was once the largest boarding school in Queensland. The School was founded in 1901 and has a well-known clock tower and chapel. It is also one of the few schools in Australia where cadet service is mandatory.
In April 2009, the three tower [[Southport Central]] development was opened.<ref name="gcca">{{cite web |url=http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/07/04/94781_gold-coast-real-estate.html |title=Southport Central's rental rush hour |author= |accessdate=17 January 2013 |date=4 July 2009 |work=goldcoast.com.au |publisher=[[News Limited]] }}</ref>
===Gold Coast Aquatic Centre===
{{Main|Gold Coast Aquatic Centre}}
The ''Gold Coast Aquatic Centre'' is located on Marine Parade adjacent to [[Gold Coast Broadwater|Southport Broadwater]]. It has a 50 metre [[Olympic size swimming pool|Olympic pool]] with [[Diving platforms|diving towers]], 33 and 25 metre [[Swimming pool|pools]] and a 15 metre indoor [[human swimming|teaching]] pool. These pools are heated. There is a children's aquatic playground which includes a wading pool.
===Southport Broadwater Parklands===
{{Main|Southport Broadwater Parklands}}
There is a major park located along the shore of the [[Gold Coast Broadwater|Southport Broadwater]]. The state government has allocated A$16M with matched funding from Gold Coast City Council (over $32 million in total), to invest into the parklands. The works will include building a pier along the Southport Mall alignment. The park will be known as Broadwater Park.
===Sundale===
The Sundale Shopping Centre, which opened on 26 March 1969, was the first of its kind on the Gold Coast costing a record $7.5M but closed in 1989 after the larger Australia Fair Shopping Centre opened nearby. It was located on {{convert|12|acre|m2}} of prime real estate facing the Broadwater which was previously the site of the popular Southport Hotel. As well as providing panoramic views of the [[Nerang River]] from the upper floor, it was home to Queensland's first [[Big W]] department store as well as a cinema, restaurants, 45 speciality stores and a 7,000 vehicle car park. It was proposed as a location for the building of the [[Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre|Gold Coast Convention Centre]]. Such a development would have rejuvenated the old administrative centre of the Gold Coast. However, it lost its bid to [[Broadbeach, Queensland|Broadbeach]], in part because of a lack of tourist accommodation in Southport. The site hosted weekly markets throughout the 1990s for several years after its closure, until its eventual demolition in 2003, at which time a time capsule was buried where the popular mall once stood. The area is now home to the [[Meriton]] Brighton on Broadwater development, a mix of high and low rise buildings together with trendy eateries and some retail outlets. In more recent years another a time capsule was discovered on the Sundale site which was buried when the mall was originally constructed. It was originally meant to be opened in the 2000s and was filled with notes and items which were meant to predict what the 21st century would be like. It is now located in the Gold Coast City Council Local Studies Library.
===Southport General Cemetery===
The 4.2 hectare Southport General Cemetery was gazetted on 16 July 1880. It is controlled by Gold Coast City Council as trustee. The cemetery is located on Queen Street which was the original route to Southport. This route led to the earliest wharf at Broadwater. Lantern Ghost Tours Gold Coast run historical night tours weekly through the Southport General Cemetery
==Heritage listings==
Southport has a number of [[heritage-listed]] sites, including:
* Marine Parade: [[Southport Bathing Pavilion]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16277|Southport Bathing Pavilion|accessdate=2013-06-19}}</ref>
* Nerang Street: [[Southport Town Hall (former)]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16410|Southport Town Hall (former)|accessdate=2013-06-19}}</ref>
* off Macarthur Parade: [[Main Beach Pavilion and Southport Surf Lifesaving Club]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16028|Main Beach Pavilion and Southport Surf Lifesaving Club|accessdate=2013-06-19}}</ref>
* 210 Queen Street: [[Southport Drill Hall]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16242|Southport Drill Hall|accessdate=2013-06-19}}</ref>
==Health and Knowledge Precinct==
Southport is home to the Gold Coast's Heath and Knowledge Precinct that includes [[Griffith University]] (Gold Coast campus), [[Queensland Academy for Health Sciences]] and the [[Gold Coast University Hospital]].
==Nature==
Habitats for native mammals include large trees with or without hollows, fallen logs, leaf litter and understorey vegetation. These provide food, shelter and places for breeding. Southport is a lovely place for picnics, riverside walks and birdwatching in the [[Southport Broadwater Parklands|Broadwater Parklands]].
==Climate==
Southport experiences a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfa'') with humid, wet summers and warm winters.
{{Weather box
|location = Southport
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 28.5
|Feb high C = 28.3
|Mar high C = 27.6
|Apr high C = 25.9
|May high C = 23.3
|Jun high C = 21.2
|Jul high C = 20.6
|Aug high C = 21.4
|Sep high C = 23.3
|Oct high C = 25.2
|Nov high C = 26.7
|Dec high C = 28.1
|year high C = 25.0
|Jan low C = 20.3
|Feb low C = 20.5
|Mar low C = 19.2
|Apr low C = 16.5
|May low C = 13.4
|Jun low C = 10.6
|Jul low C = 9.1
|Aug low C = 9.8
|Sep low C = 12.1
|Oct low C = 15.0
|Nov low C = 17.4
|Dec low C = 19.2
|year low C = 15.3
|Jan precipitation mm = 175.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 190.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 198.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 135.2
|May precipitation mm = 129.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 94.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 74.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 55.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 57.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 86.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 107.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 133.8
|year precipitation mm = 1437.4
|source 1 = <ref name="abm" >{{cite web
| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_040190.shtml | title = Climate statistics for Southport | publisher = Australian Bureau of Meteorology }}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}
== Sport and recreation ==
A number of well-known sporting teams represent the local area, including the [[Southport Tigers]], Southport Surf Life Saving Club and the [[Southport Sharks]].
==Transport==
{{Main|Transport on the Gold Coast, Queensland}}
[[File:Australia Fair.JPG|thumb|upright|Buses at the old Australia Fair Shopping Centre bus station, 2007]]
Southport has numerous main roads that connect Southport with other suburbs. [[Gold Coast Highway]] travels the full length along the coast on the Gold Coast connecting Southport with all the coastal suburbs on the city. [[Smith Street Motorway]] is a motorway grade extension of smith street connecting the suburb to the [[Pacific Motorway (Ewingsdale–Brisbane)|Pacific Motorway]] that connects the city to Brisbane.
Southport is also well serviced by public transport. A new light rail system called the [[g:link]] opened in July 2014 and runs from [[Broadbeach]] to the new [[Gold Coast University Hospital]]. The g:link operates 7 stations in the suburb connecting Southport with the major hubs of [[Surfers Paradise]] and [[Broadbeach]]. A major bus station called [[Southport bus station]] is located on Scarborough Street which provides regular and high frequency services to mainly the northern suburbs. All services are apart of the [[TransLink (South East Queensland)|Translink]] integrated fare system.
The nearest train station is located 11km from the Southport CBD at [[Helensvale]] and provides frequent services to [[Brisbane]] city and [[Brisbane Airport]].
==Famous identities==
* [[Grant Hackett]], [[swimmer]]
* [[Nick Riewoldt]], [[Australian rules football]]er with St Kilda.
* [[Casey Stoner]], motorcycle racer, 2007 and 2011 [[MotoGP]] World Champion
* [[David Dodd (footballer)|David Dodd]], [[footballer]] who played for [[Brisbane Roar]]
* [[Tommy Oar]], [[football]]er playing for [[FC Utrecht]]
* [[James O'Connor (rugby)]], Rugby Union, [[Wallabies]]
* [[Mitch Nichols]], [[football]]er for [[Melbourne Victory]] in the [[A-League]]
==See also==
{{Portal|Queensland}}
* [[List of Gold Coast suburbs]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://queenslandplaces.com.au/southport University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Southport]
{{Localities in Gold Coast}}
{{Coord|27|58|S|153|24|E|region:AU-QLD_type:city|display=title}}
[[Category:Southport, Queensland| ]]
[[Category:Coastal towns in Queensland]]
[[Category:Settlements established in 1874]]
[[Category:Australian Grand Prix]]
[[Category:1874 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Queensland places with war memorials]]
{{usedwp|Southport, Queensland}}