Runaway Bay, Queensland


Runaway Bay is a coastal suburb in the City of Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. At the 2016 Census, Runaway Bay had a population of 9,068.
The neighbourhood of Anglers Paradise is situated within Runaway Bay. It is the southern area of Runaway Bay developed before 1967.

Geography

In the east, the suburb's boundaries extend into the Gold Coast Broadwater. Of the actual land surface, the land use is residential with the exception of the north-western cornerof the suburb which is part of the Pine Ridge Conservation Park which extends north into Hollywell.

History

In 1967, the Lae Enterprises company bought 182 hectares of land along the western shore of the Gold Coast Broadwater. Development started in 1972 to transform the subdivision into a residential and boating area. The name "Runaway Bay" was coined to promote the area as a tranquil retreat. Initially the name was rejected as an official suburb name, but it was used for the local post office, which led to it becoming the official suburb name.
The Runaway Bay Library opened in 1992 with a major refurbishment in 2011.

Facilities

Runaway Bay Shopping Village is the main shopping centre in the suburb. Harbour Town Shopping Centre is located nearby in Biggera Waters. The Gold Coast City Council operate a public library in Lae Street next to the community centre. Natural amenities include Pine Ridge Conservation Park and various parklands along the western shore of the Broadwater. The Runaway Bay Marina, along with the resident Yacht Squadron, is located just north of the suburb, in Hollywell. Like in many other Gold Coast suburbs, many homes in Runaway Bay are situated along artificial canals.
The Sports Super Centre is a premier sports training and events facility in the Gold Coast. Facilities accommodate athletics, cricket, AFL, netball, soccer and indoor sports. The sports centre includes a stadium, sports medicine facility, gymnasium and Olympic aquatic centre.
The suburb is also home to the Runaway Bay Junior Rugby League club, which was formed in 1974 after local residents met at the old Runaway Bay shopping centre with the intention of forming a club for kids to play sport.
St Francis Xavier School is the only school in the suburb. Biggera Waters Primary school is located in the adjacent suburb of Biggera Waters, and Coombabah High School is located in the adjacent suburb of Coombabah; A. B. Paterson College is also located in nearby Arundel.

Sport and recreation

A number of well-known sporting teams represent the local area, including the rugby league team, the Runaway Bay Seagulls.