Mermaid Waters, Queensland

Mermaid Waters Gold Coast,  Queensland
Canal and homes in 2015
Mermaid Waters
Coordinates	28°02′59″S153°25′23″E / 28.0497°S 153.4230°E / -28.0497; 153.4230
Population	13,088 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	1,843/km2 (4,770/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4218
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Area	7.1 km2 (2.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	6.8 km (4 mi) S of Surfers Paradise 82.8 km (51 mi) SSE of Brisbane 10 km (6 mi) S of Southport 25 km (16 mi) NNW of Tweed Heads
LGA(s)	Gold Coast City
State electorate(s)	Mermaid Beach
Federal division(s)	Moncrieff
Suburbs around Mermaid Waters: Clear Island Waters Broadbeach Waters Broadbeach Robina Mermaid Waters Mermaid Beach Robina Burleigh Waters Miami

Mermaid Waters is a suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Mermaid Waters had a population of 13,088 people. ^[1]

Geography

H & A Oval, 2015

One of the two small-sized shopping centres located in Mermaid Waters.

Mermaid Waters is primarily a residential suburb, featuring many homes built along artificial canals and lakes, including the 17-hectare (42-acre) fresh water Lake Hugh Muntz. ^[3]

History

The suburb derives its name from HMS Mermaid, a cutter ship that brought Australian surveyor John Oxley to the region in 1823. ^[4] Oxley named the area where he landed "Mermaid Beach". The adjacent area to the west eventually became known as "Mermaid Waters".

Miami State School and Merrimac State High School both opened on 30 January 1979. ^[5]

The Broadbeach Library (located in Mermaid Waters) opened in 2008. ^[6]

Demographics

In the 2011 census, Mermaid Waters had a population of 11,789 people. ^[7]

In the 2016 census, Mermaid Waters had a population of 12,045 people. ^[8]

In the 2021 census, Mermaid Waters had a population of 13,088 people. ^[1]

Shopping

There are two small local shopping centres in Mermaid Waters, and a medium-sized shopping centre, Q Super Centre, in the western parts of the suburb, with new retail and commercial developments being established in the adjacent area. Nearby Pacific Fair Shopping Centre in Broadbeach Waters is one of the largest shopping centres in the Gold Coast.

Education

Aerial view of Merrimac State High School, 2006

Miami State School is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 18-36 Oceanic Drive ( 28°03′35″S153°25′34″E / 28.0596°S 153.4260°E / -28.0596; 153.4260 (Miami State School) ). ^{[9] [10]} In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 819 students with 64 teachers (55 full-time equivalent) and 43 non-teaching staff (27 full-time equivalent). ^[11] The school includes a special education program. ^{[9] [12]}

Merrimac State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at Dunlop Court ( 28°02′23″S153°24′59″E / 28.0398°S 153.4163°E / -28.0398; 153.4163 (Merrimac State High School) ). ^{[9] [13]} In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 1208 students with 103 teachers (96 full-time equivalent) and 57 non-teaching staff (43 full-time equivalent). ^[11] It includes a special education program. ^{[9] [14]}

Amenities

Albert Waterways Community Hall is at the northern end of the suburb. Immediately adjacent is the Broadbeach Library, which despite its name is located in Mermaid Waters, opposite Pacific Fair. A customer service centre for the Gold Coast City Council is part of this precinct. ^[15]

Another community hall is located on the grounds of Miami State Primary School.

Pizzey Park Sports Complex hosts a variety of sports and clubs in the southern Gold Coast. Adjacent to the complex is the Miami Olympic Swimming Pool.

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Mermaid Waters (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Mermaid Waters – suburb in City of Gold Coast (entry 50201)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 26 January 2020.
3. Dunbar, Chantal (2004). Where to live in the Gold Coast. Surfers Paradise, Australia: Where to Live Guides. pp. 174–7.
4. "Gold Coast Heritage site" . Retrieved 17 April 2007.
5. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
6. "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.
7. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Mermaid Waters (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
8. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Mermaid Waters (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
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. "Miami State School" . Retrieved 9 August 2025.
11. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
12. "Miami SS - Special Education Program". Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
13. "Merrimac State High School". Archived from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
14. "Merrimac SHS - Special Education Program". Archived from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
15. "Broadbeach Library". Gold Coast City Council . Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.

External links

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