Helensvale, Queensland

Helensvale is a suburb of the City of Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia..[2] In the 2016 census, Helensvale had a population of 16,862 people.[1]

Not to be confused with Helenvale, Queensland.

Helensvale Gold Coast, Queensland
Latrobe Avenue, 2015
Helensvale
Coordinates	27.9008°S 153.3377°E / -27.9008; 153.3377
Population	16,862 (2016 census)[1]
• Density	780.6/km^2 (2,022/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4212
Area	21.6 km^2 (8.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	18.7 km (12 mi) NNW of Surfers Paradise 63.9 km (40 mi) SSE of Brisbane
LGA(s)	City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s)	Theodore Broadwater Bonney
Federal Division(s)	Fadden
Suburbs around Helensvale: Upper Coomera Coomera Hope Island Paradise Point Oxenford Helensvale Coombabah Oxenford Gaven Arundel

Geography

Helensvale is bounded by the Pacific Motorway to the west, by the Coomera River to the north, by Saltwater Creek to the north-east, by Coombabah Creek and Coombabah Lake to the south-east.[3]

Saltwater Creek flows through the suburb from west (Oxenford) to the north from where it forms the north-east boundary of the suburb.[3]

The principal land use is residential including some canal estates in the north of the suburb providing boat access to Coomera River and Saltwater Creek. There are areas of low-lying mangrove swamps along the Coombabah Creek. Saltwater Creek Conservation Park is small protected area (27.8947°S 153.3182°E / -27.8947; 153.3182 (Saltwater Creek Conservation Park)) of 1.8 hectares (4.4 acres) in the west of the suburb.[3]

The Gold Coast railway line passes through the suburb from north (Coomera) to south (Arundel). The surburb is served by the Helensvale railway station (27.9255°S 153.3392°E / -27.9255; 153.3392 (Helensvale railway station)). The Gold Coast light rail has its northern terminus at the railway station and then exits the suburb to the south running immediately parallel and east of the railway line.[3]

Discovery Park, 2015

History

The name is derived from the name given to a local sugar plantation. A plantation was established in the area around 1870 by Arthur Robinson and Ernest White. Helena was the name of White's youngest sister.[4]

Helensvale was officially named as a locality by the Queensland Place Names Board on 31 March 1979. On 7 February 2003 it was designated as a suburb.[2]

Helensvale was the first integrated suburb built on the hinterland fringe of the Gold Coast, and welcomed its first residents in the 1980s with a shopping centre, primary and secondary state schools, golf course, parks and a bowls club.[5]

Helensvale State School opened on 23 January 1984.[6]

Helensvale State High School opened on 29 January 1990.[6]

Helensvale Library opened in 2013.[7]

In the 2016 census, Helensvale had a population of 16,862 people.[1]

Transport

Helensvale has been planned to develop as a transport hub. The Gold Coast Highway and Pacific Motorway, the two most important road routes on the Gold Coast, link here. Helensvale railway station also includes a light rail stop and a bus interchange and is the only place on the Gold Coast where trains, trams and buses interconnect. The G:link light rail system connects Helensvale with Southport, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. The interchange with the Gold Coast railway line at Helensvale offers passengers a one-transfer journey between the central districts of the Gold Coast and Brisbane.[8]

Education

Helensvale State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 8 Lindfield Road (27.9159°S 153.3279°E / -27.9159; 153.3279 (Helensvale State School)).[9][10] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 1066 students with 73 teachers (66 full-time equivalent) and 34 non-teaching staff (24 full-time equivalent).[11] It includes a special education program.[9]

Helensvale State High School is a government secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls at 243 Discovery Drive (27.8981°S 153.3267°E / -27.8981; 153.3267 (Helensvale State High School)).[9][12] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 2543 students with 193 teachers (183 full-time equivalent) and 76 non-teaching staff (56 full-time equivalent).[11] It includes a special education program.[9][13]

Amenities

The Gold Coast City Council operates a public library at Helensvale Plaza on the corner of Lindfield Road and Sir John Overall Drive.[14]

Sport and recreation

A number of sporting teams represent the local area, including the Helensvale Hornets is the local rugby league club who play home games at Robert Dalley Park and Helensvale Hogs RUFC are the local Rugby Union club who play home games at the park at Rugby Lane. There are also swimming pools which are located next to Helensvale High School near the rugby union field.

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Helensvale (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
2. "Helensvale - suburb in City of Gold Coast (entry 46051)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
4. "Helensvale History". Council of the City of Gold Coast. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
5. "QLD - Travelmate". www.travelmate.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
6. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
7. "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.
8. Moore, Tony (17 December 2017). "$440 million of Commonwealth Games rail connection opens". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 17 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
9. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
10. "Helensvale State School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
11. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
12. "Helensvale State High School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
13. "Helensvale SHS - Special Education Program". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
14. "Helensvale Library". Gold Coast City Council. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.

Further reading

• Gray, Phil; Doyle, Brian (2010), A History of Helensvale, Philip R. Gray, ISBN 978-0-646-54098-6

External links

• "Helensvale". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.