Nerang, Queensland

Nerang is a town and suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, Nerang had a population of 16,864 people.[1]

Nerang
Gold Coast, Queensland
Nerang
Coordinates27.9902°S 153.3358°E / -27.9902; 153.3358 (Nerang (town centre))
Population16,864 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density469.7/km2 (1,216.6/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4211
Area35.9 km2 (13.9 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Gold Coast City
State electorate(s)Gaven
Federal Division(s)
Suburbs around Nerang:
Maudsland Pacific Pines
Gaven		 Molendinar
Mount Nathan Nerang Ashmore
Advancetown Gilston
Highland Park		 Carrara

Geography

The Nerang River flows through the locality from south to east, passing through the town. The river ultimately flows into the most southern part of Moreton Bay.[4]

Nerang has a small town centre in which banking and a range of other commercial and retail services are available. Of more prominence within the Division, is the development of a series of light industrial parks which house a diverse range of small and large business operations providing services such as panel beating, motor vehicle wrecking, a wide range of trades, printing and equipment hire services. Administration offices of the Gold Coast City Council are also located at Nerang including Council functions such as finance, town planning and building services.[5]

History
Rossler's Sawmill, 1896

The town takes its name from the river which, in turn, is reportedly a word from the Bundjalung language, Ngaraangbal variant, meaning either small river, or shovel nosed shark.[2]

The township of Nerang was surveyed by Martin Lavelle in June 1865.[5] Lavelle named a street after himself and others after local pioneers like William White the local squatter, and Edmund Price the local planter. Nerang has focused very much on the river crossing and the head of navigation. Land was first sold here in 1871. Daily Cobb & Co coach services from Brisbane began the same year[6] and river transport to the settlement became more regular. Benjamin Cockerill erected the first hotel, The Nerang, in early 1872. The population of the 'town' of Nerang in the 1871 census was too small even to be included in the list of towns in the region. A thrice weekly Cobb & Co coach service provided the incentive for the opening of a second hotel called the Southern Cross, followed by the Royal Mail in 1873. With an abundant supply of red cedar amongst other tree species, the first industry to flourish in the area was timber cutting.

Nerang State School opened on 1 November 1875 with 47 students under teacher Thomas Johnson.[7][8]

With the establishment of a telegraph office, two stores, a butcher, a saddler, a baker and a boot maker it was clear that a township was forming. By 1881 the population reached 95.

On 30 September 1885 J. Howard Maynard auctioned 34 allotments on the bank of Mooyumbin Creek, bound by Martin Street, Tibbing Street and Price Street. At the time the amenities advertised included the Commercial Hotel, agricultural and saw-milling district and a railway station was promised.[9][10]

By 1888 there were three schools in Nerang The area and the population had grown to 343 by 1901. By 1905 Nerang was becoming a centre for dairying. Maize was the main industry with arrowroot and potato crops also becoming more important.

Although the economic focus of the Gold Coast today is tourism, in the 19th century the South Coast (as it was then known) was an agricultural area. Sugar and maize were grown by farmers along the upper reaches of the Nerang River. At that time, Nerang was the one of those townships in the Gold Coast hinterland that reflected that the economic focus of the area was agriculture. The South Coast railway arrived in Nerang in 1887 with the town being serviced by the old Nerang railway station 27.9953°S 153.3401°E / -27.9953; 153.3401 (Nerang railway station (former)).[11][12][13] The railway linked these rural towns together and gave impetus to their development. Subdivision was conventional and buildings were traditional rural or rural commercial.

In 1927, a timber building was the first built specifically for use as the Nerang Council Chambers.[14] During World War II the Australian Army's 4th Armoured Brigade operated a tank training centre at Nerang.[15]

The Shire of Nerang became part of the Shire of Albert in 1950 and the Nerang Council Chambers became a post office.[14]

It was not until the mid 20th century that the beaches of the South Coast attracted significant interest as a holiday destination, which led to the coining of the name Gold Coast where tourism became the dominant sector of the economy.

The Gaven Way, a highway connecting the Pacific Highway to Nerang, opened to traffic on 10 December 1960. It was the first stage of the Pacific Motorway in Queensland and the first initiative to diverting the major highway traffic travelling between Queensland and New South Wales to bypass the coastal recreational areas of the Gold Coast.

The South Coast railway and the Nerang railway station closed in 1964, partly reflecting the rising use of automobiles and partly reflecting the declining importance of agriculture. The Pacific Motorway development through the Gold Coast hinterland mostly followed the route of the reserved land corridor of the South Coast railway. The highway shifted development in the town in a manner which extended and perhaps dominated the early township. Nonetheless the early township still retains its connection to the river and its early subdivisions and commercial centre survives. The Nerang town centre was bypassed by the Pacific Motorway in 1979.[16]

Nerang State High School opened on 28 January 1986.[7]

St Brigid's Catholic Primary School opened on 1994.[7][17]

In the 1990s, it was realised that the Gold Coast needed a railway leading to the construction of the Gold Coast railway line which reached Nerang in 1997, although the new railway line had to follow a different route and the new Nerang railway station was in a different location to the former station on the South Coast line. This railway line was not to service agriculture but for workers and tourists to commute between the Gold Coast and Brisbane (including connection to Brisbane Airport for business and leisure travellers).

Like other Gold Coast hinterland towns, Nerang began to change from being a service centre for agriculture to becoming increasingly residential suburbs for workers in the coastal tourism industries. This was officially recognised in 2003 when Nerang was re-designated a suburb rather than a locality.[3] Recent years have seen the early Nerang flourish as an administrative centre for the growing Gold Coast.

The Nerang public library was opened in 2003.[18]

In the 2011 census, Nerang had a population of 16,256.[19]

In the 2016 census, Nerang had a population of 16,864 people.[1]

Transport

Nerang is a regional and transportation hub, containing several shopping centres and Nerang railway station.

Education

Nerang State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 3 Nerang Street (27.9886°S 153.3384°E / -27.9886; 153.3384 (Nerang State School)).[20][21] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 325 students with 28 teachers (23 full-time equivalent) and 21 non-teaching staff (12 full-time equivalent).[22] It includes a special education program.[20]

St Brigid's Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 39-49 McLaren Road (28.0008°S 153.3183°E / -28.0008; 153.3183 (St Brigid's Catholic Primary School)).[20][23] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 406 students with 31 teachers (25 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (10 full-time equivalent).[22]

Nerang State High School is a government secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls at Weedons Road (28.0005°S 153.3278°E / -28.0005; 153.3278 (Nerang State High School)).[20][24] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 1026 students with 93 teachers (88 full-time equivalent) and 43 non-teaching staff (31 full-time equivalent).[22] It includes a special education program.[20][25]

Community amenities

The Nerang Branch Library is located on the corner of White & Price Streets.[26] The Nerang Branch Library also holds the Special Needs Library Collection which contains specialist materials for developmental and disability needs.[27]

The Nerang branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the Girl Guide Hut at 40 Ferry Street.[28]

Sport and recreation

A number of well-known sporting teams represent the local area, including the Nerang Roosters is the local rugby league club and Nerang Bulls RUC are the local Rugby Union club who play home games at Robert Dalley Park. The Carrara Sports Ground is located a short distance away from the Nerang Train Station with Metricon Stadium being the home for of the Gold Coast Suns AFL football team. The area surrounding the Carrara Sports Ground has undertaken significant development in anticipation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Nerang also boasts a velodrome and a public swimming pool complex that has 3 pools owned and operated by the Gold Coast City Council. The Mudgeeraba/Nerang Cricket Club also has its home ground at Carrara with turf wicket, practice nets and club house facilities. It has teams in all grades from juniors through to first grade in the Gold Coast District Cricket competition. There are also a number of world class golf courses within easy reach from Nerang. The Nerang Division takes in areas such as Springbrook, Natural Arch, the Rock Pools and Lower Beechmont; all great places to take the family for picnics, horse riding and bush walking.[5]

Heritage listings

There are a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Relocated from Nerang:

  • 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise (Surfers Paradise Administration Centre): St Margaret’s Church (originally in Nerang) [34]

Notable residents

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Nerang (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Nerang – town in City of Gold Coast (entry 24047)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  3. "Nerang – suburb in City of Gold Coast (entry 48134)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  5. Queensland Police Service - Nerang Archived 22 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Centre for the Government of Queensland, Queensland Police Service. Retrieved on 24 April 2018.
  6. Roberts, Beryl (1991). Stories of the Southside. Archerfield, Queensland: Aussie Books. p. 14. ISBN 0-947336-01-X.
  7. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  8. "Our school". Nerang State School. 2 March 2020. Archived from the original on 13 March 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  9. "Mooyumbin Estate, Town of Nerang". 1885. hdl:10462/deriv/18477. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. "Advertising". Queensland Figaro And Punch. VI (142). Queensland, Australia. 26 September 1885. p. 22. Retrieved 26 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Untitled" (Map). Queensland Government. 1947. Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  12. "OPENING OF NERANG RAILWAY". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser. XLIV (6642). 27 August 1903. p. 2. Retrieved 9 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "Town of Nerang" (Map). Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  14. Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2000). Heritage Trails of the Great South East. State of Queensland. p. 24. ISBN 0-7345-1008-X.
  15. Hopkins, R.N.L. (1978). Australian Armour: A History of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps 1927–1972. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. p. 140. ISBN 0-642-99407-2.
  16. Department of Main Roads Annual Report 1978-1979
  17. "School History". St Brigid's Catholic Primary School. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  18. "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  19. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Nerang (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  20. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  21. "Nerang State School". Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  22. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  23. "St Brigid's Catholic Primary School". Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  24. "Nerang State High School". Archived from the original on 13 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  25. "Nerang SHS - Special Education Program". Archived from the original on 13 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  26. "Nerang Branch Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 16 October 2014. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  27. "Special Needs Library". Gold Coast City Council. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  28. "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  29. "Nerang Police Lock-up" (PDF). Gold Coast Local Heritage Register. 5 June 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  30. Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - A to M, pp. 69-70
  31. Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - A to M, pp. 23-24
  32. Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - N to Z, pp. 101-102
  33. Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - N to Z, pp. 83-84
  34. Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - N to Z, pp. 109-110

Sources
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