Natural Bridge is a rural locality in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.[3] It borders New South Wales.[2] In the 2021 census, Natural Bridge had a population of 90 people.[1]
| Natural Bridge Gold Coast, Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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 Natural Bridge cave and waterfall, 2012 | |||||||||||||||
  Natural Bridge | |||||||||||||||
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| Coordinates | 28°13′14″S 153°13′43″E / 28.2205°S 153.2286°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 90 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 2.14/km2 (5.54/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1979[2] | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4211 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 42.1 km2 (16.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | City of Gold Coast | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Mudgeeraba | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | McPherson | ||||||||||||||
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Geography
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Natural Bridge is in the far south-west of the City of Gold Coast in South East Queensland. Its name is taken from a natural rock arch in Springbrook National Park. A waterfall along Cave Creek, a tributary of the Nerang River flows through the arch. Natural Bridge is located at the southern extent of the Nerang River valley on the southern border with New South Wales, between the Springbrook plateau and Binna Burra in the Scenic Rim Region.
The western half of Natural Bridge is protected within Lamington National Park. The rugged landscape here is dotted with waterfalls, lookouts and peaks rising above 1,100 metres. The valley is traversed along its length via the Nerang–Murwillumbah Road which continues south.[4]
History
editNuminbah Upper State School opened on 31 January 1939. In 1957 it was renamed Natural Bridge State School. It closed on 13 December 1991.[5] The school was located at 3160 Nerang Murwillumbah Road (28°13′13″S 153°14′06″E / 28.2203°S 153.2349°E).[2][6]
During 2020 and 2021, the Queensland borders were closed to most people due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Border crossing points were either closed or had a Queensland Police checkpoint to allow entry to only those people with an appropriate permit. The Nerang-Murwillumbah Road at Natural Bridge had a police checkpoint.[7]
Demographics
editIn the 2016 census, Natural Bridge had a population of 108 people.[8]
In the 2021 census, Natural Bridge had a population of 90 people.[1]
Education
editThere are no schools in Natural Bridge. The nearest primary school is Numinbah Valley State School in neighbouring Numinbah Valley to the north. The nearest secondary school is Nerang State High School in Nerang to the north-east.[2]
Amenities
editThe Police Citizens Youth Club operates the Bornhoffen camp as a community-based group accommodation centre.[9]
Attractions
editThe Natural Bridge section of Springbrook National Park contains one of the largest glowworm colonies in Australia.[10] In 2007, 280,000 people visited Natural Bridge.[11]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Natural Bridge (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ "Natural Bridge – locality in City of Gold Coast (entry 47850)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "Natural Bridge" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
- ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
- ^ "Parish of Numinbah" (Map). Queensland Government. 1975. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Crossing Qld-NSW border? Here's everything you need to know". ABC News. 25 July 2021. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Natural Bridge (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Bornhoffen PCYC". Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ Allan Tisdell, Clement; Clevo Wilson (2012). Nature-based Tourism and Conservation: New Economic Insights and Case Studies. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 477. ISBN 978-1-78100-516-3. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ Lemelin, Raynald Harvey (2012). The Management of Insects in Recreation and Tourism. Cambridge University Press. p. 221. ISBN 978-1-139-78929-5. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
Further reading
edit- Natural Bridge State School. Parents and Citizens Association (1989), Natural Bridge State School, 1939-1989 : 50th anniversary, 28th January, 1989, The Natural Bridge State School P. & C. Association, ISBN 978-0-7316-6122-0
External links
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- "Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park". Tourism and Events Queensland. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019.