Locality Guide

About our Local Area

According to an early historian W.E. Hanlon, the name Coomera originated from Kumera Kumera - the aboriginal word for a native species of wattle. In a neighbouring dialect the word referred to blood.

Early resident Charles Binstead believed that Kumera referred to the river. Rory O'Connor in The Kombumerri: Aboriginal People of the Gold Coast states that Coomera means blood or vein and refers to the flowing river - the life source of the surrounding lands.

The Coomera River

The Coomera River, shown on some early maps as the Arrowsmith, rises in the subtropical forests of Lamington Plateau, twists and winds its way down through the valley between the Beechmont and Darlington Ranges to Upper Coomera. From here, its waters spread wide, flowing along the floodplain of Lower Coomera to finally empty into the Broadwater in Southern Moreton Bay.

European settlement

By 1865 the Coomera was already an important waterway for timber-getters working in the Hinterland. The Binstead family, timber-getters and farmers, settled at Upper Coomera near a good ford in the river, accessible except during floods. This route was used by the first horse mail run between Brisbane and Nerang. Later a ferry service was established downstream and this site was called the Ferry Township, or Lower Coomera, to distinguish it from the original settlement. Travellers used the more direct southern route and Coomera township grew and prospered.

The ferry was the main link for the coast road until the first Coomera Bridge was opened in 1930. Lower Coomera was also located on the route of the South Coast Rail Line. A rail station here confirmed the future of permanent settlement.

Visitor Centre

The community centre offers a large multi-purpose hall, five meeting rooms, two activity rooms, an art workshop, computer room, youth space and a kitchen all available to hire by individuals, businesses or local community organisations. All of our rooms have access to the latest audio visual technology for performances, meetings or classes.

Since the centre opened in 2013, over 50 local businesses and not for profit organisations have committed to providing a wide variety of regular activities and services including fitness, educational and social services for the community.
The purpose of the centre is to provide spaces where the community can run special events, attend regular activities and utilise services. Generous discounts on hourly room rates are available for not for profit and other organisations that run activities that the community benefit from.

The importance of the centre was recognised by the Australian Government's Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, which contributed $2 million towards the facility as part of the Regional Development Fund Australia.

Attractions

Coomera has Australia's biggest and most popular theme park, Dreamworld, which is also the location of the popular Big Brother Australia house. Located on Foxwell Road, just off the highway, is the new TAFE and plans for a university campus and Queensland's biggest shopping centre are underway with locations near the existing railway station.

Facilities

Upper Coomera has several shopping venues. The main ones are Coomera City Centre, Coomera Grand Shopping Centre and The Hub at the junction of Days Road and Old Coach Road.  Together they are anchored by Woolworths and Aldi supermarkets, a McDonalds and Hungry Jacks fast food outlet, a Masters Home Improvement store with various other retail businesses.

Also located throughout the suburb in smaller shopping villages are Bi-Lo and Coles supermarkets. Various other fast food outlets exist in Upper Coomera which include Pizza Hut, Subway, KFC and Pizza Capers.  Soon to be constructed is the Westfield Coomera Town Centre. The Coomera Town Centre has its own planning scheme which is being finalised by the Gold Coast City Council. Coomera Town Centre is proposed to have 54,000sqm of retail space with department stores, retailers, specialty outlets and supermarkets.

Much interest has been focused on Westfield town centre which will also feature 50,000sqm of office space, 30,000sqm of bulky goods space, 10,000sqm of mixed-use retail space and 15,000sqm of future retail space.
The Westfield town centre will also have a TAFE college, library, community centre, high-density residential, public plaza and a major transport station based around the current Coomera railway station.

Public Transport

Upper Coomera is well serviced by a variety of bus routes provided by Surfside Bus Lines and operated by Translink. There is also a train station on Foxwell Road in Coomera.  For more information see translink.com.au

Community

The nearest hospitals are:

Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215
Phone: 1300 744 284

Pindara Private Hospital
Allchurch Avenue
Benowa QLD 4217
Phone: (07) 5588 9888

Allamanda Private Hospital
14 Hill Street
Southport QLD 4215
Phone: (07) 5530 0300

Pacific Private Hospital
123 Nerang Street
Southport  QLD  4215
Phone: (07) 5556 6222

Local Schools

Local Pre-Schools include:

• Upper Coomera State College Preschool - (07) 5580 7500
• Coomera Clubhouse Child Care Early Learning - (07) 5665 6111
• Saint Stephen's College Child Care Centre - (07) 5573 8650
• Beattie Road Early Childhood Education Centre - (07) 5573 3877
• Early Learning Centre - Coomera (07) 5519 9066 & Upper Coomera (07) 5556 0511
• Little Stars Early Learning Centre - (07) 5519 3330
• Keshia's Family Day Care – (07) 5573 2414
• Coomera Kids Educare Centre  - (07) 5502 7066
• Bonny Babes Child Care Centre - (07) 5519 9722

Local primary schools include:

• Upper Coomera State College (P-6) - (07) 5580 7555
• Coomera Springs State School (P-7) - (07) 5519 5300
• Highland Reserve State School (P-7) - (07) 5588 3333
• Coomera State School - (07) 5580 7555
• The secondary schools in the area include:
• Upper Coomera State College - (07) 5580 7555

The Private schools in the area include:

• Assisi Catholic College (P-12)  - (07) 5656 7100
• Saint Stephen's College (P-12)  - (07) 5573 8600 
• Coomera Anglican College (P-12)  - (07) 5585 9900  

Sport

Coomera and Upper Coomera are well serviced by sporting facilities. Coomera has a sporting team for Soccer, Aussie Rules, Rugby Union and Rugby League.

Regatta Waters Lake also known as Coomera Lake, is renowned for its watersports, Rowing, Sailing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Stand Up Paddle, Dragon Boats, Fitness, Walking, Jogging, Cycling, Exercise Stations and Personal Training

At nearby Pimpama you can get THE WRX EXPERIENCE (the ONLY Rally Experience on the GOLD COAST)

Golf courses in the area include internationally renowned Gainsborough Greens.