View source for Coolangatta

{{Other uses}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{GeoGroup}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                = suburb
| name                = Coolangatta
| city                = [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]
| state               = qld
| image               = Marine Parade in Coolangatta, Queensland, 2020, 01.jpg
| caption             = Marine Parade
| coordinates         = {{coord|-28.1708|153.5336|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Coolangatta (centre of suburb)}}
| local_map           = yes
| zoom                = 13
| alternative_location_map = Australia Gold Coast
| pop                 = 6491
| pop_year            = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes       = <ref name=Census2021/>
| established         = 1883
| postcode            = 4225
| elevation           = 6
| area                = 1.8
| timezone            = [[AEST]]
| utc                 = +10:00
| dist1               = 23.8<!-- road distances as per template instructions -->
| dir1                = SSE
| location1           = [[Surfers Paradise, Queensland|Surfers Paradise]]
| dist2               = 29.0
| dir2                = SSE
| location2           = [[Southport, Queensland|Southport]]
| dist3               = 113
| dir3                = SSE
| location3           = [[Brisbane]]
| dist4               = 
| dir4                = 
| location4           =
| lga                 = [[City of Gold Coast]]
| stategov            = [[Electoral district of Currumbin|Currumbin]]
| fedgov              = [[Division of McPherson|McPherson]]
| near-n              = ''[[Coral Sea]]''
| near-ne             = ''[[Coral Sea]]''
| near-e              = ''[[Coral Sea]]''
| near-se             = ''[[Tweed Heads, New South Wales|Tweed Heads (NSW)]]''
| near-s              = ''[[Tweed Heads, New South Wales|Tweed Heads (NSW)]]''
| near-sw             = ''[[Tweed Heads West, New South Wales|Tweed Heads West (NSW)]]''
| near-w              = [[Bilinga, Queensland|Bilinga]]
| near-nw             = [[Bilinga, Queensland|Bilinga]]
}}
'''Coolangatta''' is a coastal [[Suburbs and localities (Australia)|suburb]] in the [[City of Gold Coast]], [[Queensland]], Australia.<ref name=qpnl>{{cite QPN|46040|Coolangatta|suburb in City of Gold Coast|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref> It is the Gold Coast's southernmost suburb and it borders [[New South Wales]].<ref name="globe">{{Queensland Globe|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref> In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Coolangatta had a population of 6,491 people.<ref name=Census2021/>

== History ==
Coolangatta is situated in the [[Yugambeh–Bundjalung languages|Bundjalung]] traditional [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal]] country.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=2019-07-26|title=E12: Bundjalung^|url=https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/language/e12|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-29|website=Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies|publisher=Federal government|language=en|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184648/https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/language/e12}}</ref> The Yugambeh people are local custodians in the Bundjalung traditional Aboriginal country. [[Yugambeh language]] (also known as Yugumbir, Jugambel, Jugambeir, Jugumbir, Jukam, Jukamba) is one of the [[Australian Aboriginal languages]] in areas that include the [[Beenleigh, Queensland|Beenleigh]], [[Beaudesert, Queensland|Beaudesert]], Gold Coast, Logan, [[Scenic Rim]], [[Albert River (South East Queensland)|Albert River]], Coolangatta, [[Coomera, Queensland|Coomera]], [[Logan River]], [[Pimpama, Queensland|Pimpama]], [[Tamborine Mountain|Tamborine]] and [[Tweed River (New South Wales)|Tweed River]] Valley, within the local government boundaries of the [[City of Gold Coast]], [[Logan City|City of Logan]], [[Scenic Rim]] Regional Council and the Tweed River Valley.<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/yugambeh-167|title=Yugembah|author=|date=|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=28 January 2020}}</ref>

=== Early settlement ===
[[File:StateLibQld 1 262968 Estate map of the town of Coolangatta, Queensland, 1885.jpg|thumb|Estate map of the town of Coolangatta, Queensland, 1885]]
Coolangatta was one of the earliest settlements on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]. Once again focused on a steep headland at [[Point Danger (Tweed Heads)|Point Danger]] the area was occupied by Europeans from at least 1828 by a convict station and [[Toona ciliata|red cedar]] getters soon followed.

=== Wreck of the ''Coolangatta'' ===
On 18 August 1846, the schooner ''Coolangatta'' was wrecked on [[Kirra, Queensland|Kirra]] / Bilinga Beach adjacent to a creek during a storm.[[File:AU Schooner Coolangatta wrk.jpg|thumb|upright|Anchor from ''Coolangatta'' wreck site memorial; creek at right]]
A topsail [[schooner]] of {{convert|83|ft}} in length and {{convert|88|LT|t|abbr=on|lk=on}}, ''Coolangatta'' was built by John Blinksell in 1843 for [[Alexander Berry]] whose property, [[Coolangatta Estate]], adjoined Coolangatta mountain located on the northern bank of the [[Shoalhaven River]], New South Wales.

On 6 July 1846, the ship sailed under Captain Steele from [[Brisbane, Queensland|Brisbane]], carrying two [[convict]] prisoners (George Craig in irons, and William George Lewis), to load red cedar logs at the [[Tweed River (New South Wales)|Tweed River]] for Sydney. Steele found the river entrance closed by [[silt]] forming a [[Bar (landform)|bar]], so he anchored in the lee of Point Danger off Kirra Beach. Red cedar logs were then hauled overland from Terranora Inlet and rafted from the beach, but in six weeks less than half of the contracted 70,000 feet of red cedar had been loaded. Meanwhile, five ships loaded with red cedar were bar-bound inside the river.

On 18 August 1846, while Steel was ashore, a south-east gale blew up. Steele's boat was damaged while getting through the surf and he watched from the beach as the gale intensified. Eventually, the prisoners were freed and all hands abandoned ship and swam for shore as the anchors dragged. The ship parted its anchors and washed ashore near what was later called Coolangatta Creek.

The survivors walked {{convert|70|mi}} north to Amity Point in six days, fed each night by different groups of friendly [[indigenous Australians]], and were taken into Brisbane on board the ''Tamar''.

=== Township develops ===
Selectors followed in the 1860s and a small settlement was established.

In 1883 a township was surveyed. A map of the town in 1885<ref>{{cite archive |first= |last= |item=Town of Coolangatta Parish of Tallebuggera, County of Ward, Beenleigh Land Agent's District |type=Map |date=1885 |series= |file= |box= |collection=Collections |repository= |institution=State Library of Queensland |location= |item-url=https://hdl.handle.net/10462/deriv/18522}}</ref> shows the results of a recent land sale where several town lots were sold.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Government Land Sale. – The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld.: 1866 – 1939) – 4 Jul 1885|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19799088|access-date=26 November 2019|newspaper=Queenslander|date=4 July 1885 |language=en|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103551/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19799088|url-status=live}}</ref> Government [[Geophysical survey|surveyor]] Henry Schneider named the area Coolangatta after the shipwreck while surveying in 1883 for the land auction in March 1884.[[File:StateLibQld 1 296123 Border Gates between Coolangatta and Tweed Heads, 1943.jpg|thumb|Border Gates between Coolangatta and Tweed Heads, 1943]]
[[File:StateLibQld 1 253530 Aerial view looking towards Point Danger, Coolangatta, ca. 1952.jpg|thumb|Aerial view looking towards Point Danger, Coolangatta, {{circa|1952}}. Tweed Heads (New South Wales) is to the left. The main road running inland from the headland is Boundary Street, which marks the state border.]]
[[File:Queensland, NSW.jpg|thumb|upright|Border marker between two states, dividing the "Twin Towns"]]
[[File:Crash (45912921584).jpg|thumb|Snapper Rocks, a popular surfing and sea-bathing area in Coolangatta]]
As a [[Queensland borders|border town]] Coolangatta included a customs office, boatshed and government wharf.

=== Twentieth century ===

The [[South Coast railway line, Queensland|South Coast railway]] was extended from [[Nerang railway station]] to [[Tweed Heads, New South Wales|Tweed Heads]] in New South Wales and opened on 10 August 1903.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19238863 |title=VISITORS FROM NEW SOUTH WALES. |newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]] |date=11 August 1903 |access-date=16 September 2014 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=27 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427002102/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19238863 |url-status=live }}</ref> Coolangatta railway station was located to the south of the intersection of Griffith and Dutton Streets ({{coord|-28.1685|153.5367|type:railwaysation_region:AU-QLD|name=Coolangatta railway station (former)}}). The terminus Tweed Heads railway station was in Tweed Heads near Thomson Street ({{coord|-28.1720|153.5405|type:railwaysation_region:AU-QLD|name=Tweed Heads railway station (former)}}).<ref>{{cite web|title=South Coast Rail Line|url=http://www.petan.net/railway/sthcoast.htm|access-date=15 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915204124/http://www.petan.net/railway/sthcoast.htm|archive-date=15 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/topo_scans/topo-map-1mile-military-line-colour-tweed-heads-1943.jpg|title=Tweed Heads|date=1943|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]|type=Map|access-date=6 April 2020|archive-date=5 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405154931/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/topo_scans/topo-map-1mile-military-line-colour-tweed-heads-1943.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref> The railway guaranteed the success of Coolangatta as a holiday township and it flourished from that time forward.

The Tweed Heads Surf and Life Saving Club was established on Friday 26 January 1909.<ref>{{cite news|date=3 March 1909|title=TWEED HEADS NEWS.|volume=LXV|page=4|newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]]|issue=15,956|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19566298|access-date=23 February 2021|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=12 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912032023/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19566298|url-status=live}}</ref> Tweed Heads and Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club building opened on 13 September 1911.<ref name="Tweed Heads Life Saving Brigade">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19689648 |title=Tweed Heads Life Saving Brigade. |newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]] |date=16 September 1911 |access-date=16 September 2014 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=22 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103551/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19689648 |url-status=live }}</ref> Guesthouses and hotels were erected and a commercial centre soon followed.

Land was advertised for sale in December 1912, being allotments in sections 3, 14, 25, [16 & 17], town of Coolangatta and portion 44 (special lease) parish of Tallebudgera,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rosettadel.slq.qld.gov.au/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?change_lng=en&dps_pid=IE428433|title=Plan of allotments in sections 3, 14, 25, 16 & 17, town of Coolangatta ... and portion 44 (special lease ...) parish of Tallebudgera, county of Ward|website=rosettadel.slq.qld.gov.au|access-date=26 November 2019|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103551/http://rosettadel.slq.qld.gov.au/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?change_lng=en&dps_pid=IE428433|url-status=live}}</ref> with 7 allotments facing either Marine Parade or Griffith Street. A further 35 allotments immediately south of Coolangatta railway station and 2 further allotments facing McLean Street were also advertised for sale.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19858790|title=Advertising – The Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933) – 4 Dec 1912|newspaper=Brisbane Courier|date=4 December 1912 |language=en|access-date=26 November 2019|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103554/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19858790|url-status=live}}</ref>

Prior to 1914, Coolangatta was administered by the [[Nerang Divisional Board]], which became the [[Shire of Nerang]] in 1903. In 1914, Coolangatta had its own [[local government in Australia|local government]], the [[Town of Coolangatta]], but in 1949 it was amalgamated into the [[Town of South Coast]], which later became [[City of Gold Coast]].<ref>{{cite QSA Agency|10376|Coolangatta Town Council|7 September 2013
}}</ref>

The ''Coolangatta Star'' newspaper was published from 1916 to 1927. In May 1927, the Tweed Heads and Coolangatta star amalgamated with the ''[[Coolangatta Chronicle]]'' to become the ''Border Star''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tweed Heads & Coolangatta Star|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/220233186|access-date=24 January 2018|website=Trove|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103558/https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/220233186|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''Border Star'' newspaper ceased publication in 1942.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Border star|date=1929|publisher=Canberra National Library of Australia|issn=2206-1746}}</ref>

In January 1919, the border between Queensland and New South Wales was closed to all traffic in response to the [[1918 flu pandemic]] in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease north into Queensland.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article176301111 |title=INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC. |newspaper=[[Telegraph (Brisbane)|The Telegraph]] |issue=14,408 |location=Brisbane |date=29 January 1919 |access-date=14 May 2016 |page=2 |edition=SECOND |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=22 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103556/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/176301111 |url-status=live }}</ref> People found themselves stranded on the one side of the border unable to return to their homes or employment on the other side.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article185309317 |title=Border Quarantine. |newspaper=[[Telegraph (Brisbane)|The Telegraph]] |issue=14,440 |location=Brisbane |date=7 March 1919 |access-date=14 May 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=22 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103556/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/185309317 |url-status=live }}</ref> Quarantine stations and camps were established to house travelers and stranded residents. One impact on the border closure was the need to duplicate services across the twin towns on the Queensland side of the border, as at 1 February 1919, Coolangatta had no doctor, no pharmacist, no milkman, no butcher and no undertaker. Nor did Coolangatta have a school nor a post office.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 February 1919|title=POSITION AT THE BORDER.|page=3|newspaper=[[The Northern Miner (Queensland)|The Northern Miner]]|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article80423555|access-date=13 September 2020|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103556/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/80423555|url-status=live}}</ref> The border remained closed until May 1919.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article176083365 |title=Opening the Border. |newspaper=[[Telegraph (Brisbane)|The Telegraph]] |issue=14,500 |location=Brisbane |date=17 May 1919 |access-date=14 May 2016 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=22 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103615/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/176083365 |url-status=live }}</ref>

One of the services that required duplication was a school for 56 children living in Coolangatta but attending school in Tweed Heads.<ref>{{cite news|date=7 March 1919|title=GOOLANGATTA SCHOOL|page=4|newspaper=[[Daily Mail (Brisbane)|Daily Mail]]|issue=5094|location=Brisbane|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220550675|access-date=14 May 2016|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103556/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220550675|url-status=live}}</ref> Previously on 28 June 1918 the Queensland Department of Public Instruction had indicated their intention to establish a school at Coolangatta but no progress had been made. When the Coolangatta children were unable to return to their Tweed Heads school in February 1919, the Coolangatta Town Council made a meeting room available in their council chambers for use as a temporary school room and the [[Queensland Department of Education|Queensland Department of Public Instruction]] sent school furniture and one teacher from Brisbane, and Coolangatta Provisional School commenced operation on 10 February 1919. The next task was to construct a school building with two classrooms on the school reserve at 1 Garrick Street (corner of Powell Street, {{Coord|-28.1675|153.5338|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Coolangatta State School (former)}}) on Kirra Hill.<ref>{{cite news|date=7 March 1919|title=Coolangatta School|page=4|newspaper=[[Daily Mail (Brisbane)|The Daily Mail]]|issue=5094|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220550675|url-status=live|access-date=13 September 2020|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103556/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220550675}}</ref> Although expected to be completed in six months, it was not until the start of the 1920 school year that the new Coolangatta State School opened with 67 students under headmaster Claude de Jersey and another teacher.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Whittington|first=Dot|date=13 September 2020|title=History repeats with a global emergency|page=49|work=[[The Sunday Mail (Brisbane)|The Sunday Mail]]}}</ref> It  was officially opened on 2 October 1920 by [[Queensland Governor]] [[Matthew Nathan]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news|date=14 February 1922|title=COOLANGATTA|page=10|newspaper=[[Daily Mail (Brisbane)|The Daily Mail]]|issue=6164|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220527811|access-date=13 September 2020|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103632/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220527811|url-status=live}}</ref> Growth in the school over the decades subsequently led to its relocation to Stapylton Street, officially opening there on 26 November 1977. The old school bell from Kirra Hill was relocated to the Stapylton Street where it remains in daily use.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2020-02-06|title=History|url=https://coolangattass.eq.edu.au/our-school/history|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401183158/https://coolangattass.eq.edu.au/our-school/history|archive-date=1 April 2020|access-date=2020-09-12|website=Coolangatta State School|language=en}}</ref>

There was a [[stump-capping ceremony]] held for the Coolangatta Methodist Memorial Church on Sunday 8 June 1924.<ref>{{cite news|date=9 June 1924|title=STUMP CAPPING|page=9|newspaper=[[Daily Mail (Brisbane)|The Daily Mail]]|issue=6952|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219096293|url-status=live|access-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103611/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219096293|archive-date=22 November 2020|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The church was officially opened at 26-28 Lanham Street ({{Coord|-28.1693|153.5356|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Coolangatta Methodist Church}}) on Sunday 27 September 1924 by Reverend Dr George Edward Rowe.<ref>{{cite news|date=6 September 1924|title=The new Methodist Memorial Church at Coolangatta|page=8|newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]]|issue=20,787|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22876317|url-status=live|access-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103611/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22876317|archive-date=22 November 2020|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Following the Methodist Church amalgamating into the [[Uniting Church in Australia]] in 1977, the church became Coolangatta Uniting Church. In June 1988 the Uniting Church in Coolangatta and Tweed Heads merged to form the Twin Towns Uniting Church.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-06|title=Our History|url=https://twintownsuniting.org.au/?page_id=138|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806135856/https://twintownsuniting.org.au/?page_id=138|archive-date=6 August 2020|access-date=22 November 2020|website=Twin Towns Uniting Church, Coolangatta}}</ref> In 1992 the growing population in [[Banora Point]] in New South Wales resulted in the decision to open a Uniting Church there and in the late 1990s, that church became a parish in its own right with the Twin Towns parish now serving only Coolangatta.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our History|url=https://twintownsuniting.org.au/?page_id=13|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806135856/https://twintownsuniting.org.au/?page_id=138|archive-date=6 August 2020|access-date=12 September 2021|website=Twin Towns Coolangatta Uniting Church}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Twin Towns Uniting Church|url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/uniting-church-in-australia/directory/3712-twin-towns-uniting-church|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-12|website=Churches Australia|language=en|archive-date=12 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912032022/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/uniting-church-in-australia/directory/3712-twin-towns-uniting-church}}</ref>
[[File:St Augustine's Catholic Church, Coolangatta, at its opening, December 1926.jpg|thumb|St Augustine's Catholic Church at its opening, December 1926]]
On Monday 31 April 1925 [[Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane|Archbishop]] [[James Duhig]] laid the foundation stone of St Augustine's Catholic Church.<ref>{{cite news|date=14 April 1925|title=FOUNDATION STONE|page=10|newspaper=[[Daily Mail (Brisbane)|The Daily Mail]]|issue=7215|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218252804|access-date=22 November 2020|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103610/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/218252804|url-status=live}}</ref> On Sunday 19 December 1926 Duhig returned to officially open and bless the church.<ref>{{cite news|date=6 January 1927|title=Coolangatta.|page=42|newspaper=[[The Catholic Press]]|issue=1617|location=New South Wales, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107970469|access-date=22 November 2020|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103610/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107970469|url-status=live}}</ref> The church was built in a commanding position overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the Italian Romanesque style. The tower is {{Convert|110|ft}} high.<ref>{{cite news|date=24 December 1926|title=St Augustine's Catholic Church, Coolangatta|page=12 (SECOND EDITION--3 p.m.)|newspaper=[[The Daily Standard (Brisbane)|Daily Standard]]|issue=4354|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article181015487|via=National Library of Australia|access-date=24 January 2022|archive-date=21 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521051521/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/181015487|url-status=live}}</ref>

St Augustine's Catholic School was established in 1926 by the [[Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart]]. From 1950 the school was operated by Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. On 27 January 1987 the school relocated to a new site in [[Currumbin Waters, Queensland|Currumbin Waters]]. In 1992 the sisters ended their association with the school which is now under [[Laity|lay]] administration.<ref name="qfhs">{{Citation|author1=Queensland Family History Society|title=Queensland schools past and present|date=2010|edition=Version 1.01|publisher=[[Queensland Family History Society]]|isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sa.qld.edu.au/Our%20School/Pages/History.aspx|title=Our History|website=St Augustine's Parish Primary School, Currumbin Waters|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306134619/http://www.sa.qld.edu.au/Our%2520School/Pages/History.aspx|archive-date=6 March 2020|access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref>

The foundation stone of St Peter's Anglican Church at 34 Lanham Street (corner of Dutton Street, {{Coord|-28.1693|153.5362|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=St Peter's Anglican Church (former)}}) was laid on 31 October 1937 by [[Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane|Archbishop]] [[William Wand]].<ref>{{cite news|date=1 November 1937|title=Archbishop Wand Lays Foundation Stone of Coolangatta Church|page=9 (CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS)|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Brisbane)|The Telegraph]]|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article183527307|url-status=live|access-date=22 November 2020|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103610/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/183527307}}</ref> It was dedicated in 1938 by Wand. Its closure circa 2013 was approved by Archbishop [[Phillip Aspinall|Philip Aspinall]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anglicanarchives.org.au/churches/#C|title=Closed Churches|last=Anglican Church of Southern Queensland|access-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403003329/https://www.anglicanarchives.org.au/churches/#C|archive-date=3 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=St Peter's Anglican Church - Former|url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/locations/queensland/c-e-towns/directory/1087-st-peterand#39;s-anglican-church-former|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121231911/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/locations/queensland/c-e-towns/directory/1087-st-peterand%2339%3Bs-anglican-church-former|archive-date=2020-11-21|access-date=2020-11-21|website=Churches Australia|language=en}}</ref>

An unnamed cyclone crossed the coast at Coolangatta on the night of 20 February 1954.<ref name="tggcc">{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-18/unnamed-great-gold-coast-cyclone-february-1954/5266720 |title=The Great Gold Coast Cyclone – February 1954 |author=Damien Larkins |access-date=19 January 2016 |date=20 February 2014 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126070539/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-18/unnamed-great-gold-coast-cyclone-february-1954/5266720 |archive-date=26 January 2016 }}</ref> The storm quickly cleared from Queensland skies but moved south, causing widespread loss of life and flooding in New South Wales.

The railway line closed in 1961 due to the rising use of cars.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Little remains of the earliest structures at Coolangatta but some evidence remains of subsequent development in the early years of the twentieth century including the [[Coolangatta Hotel]], [[Kirra Beach Hotel]] and [[St Augustine's Catholic Church (Coolangatta)]]. In addition to the former [[Coolangatta State School]], the [[Anzac Memorial (Coolangatta)]], [[Jazzland Coolangatta]], the [[Kirra Beach Pavilion]], [[Kirra Beach Shelter Shed]] and the remains of [[Jack Evans Porpoise Pool]] are on the Gold Coast Local Heritage Register.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gold Coast Local Heritage Register|url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/gc-local-heritage-register.pdf|website=City of Gold Coast|access-date=29 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919110203/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/gc-local-heritage-register.pdf|archive-date=19 September 2016}}</ref>

The border fence and gates that until recently were a characteristic of the area have now been removed but the sense of the border remains at Boundary Street running along the ridge of the headland between Queensland and New South Wales. The headland itself is an important landmark and tourist destination and is the site of the [[Point Danger Lighthouse]]. Coolangatta symbolises the terminus of the Gold Coast and the long strip of beach that begins at [[Main Beach, Queensland|Main Beach]] forty kilometres to the north.

Coolangatta and its surrounds were the home of two early tourist attractions on the Gold Coast. [[Jack Evans Porpoise Pool]] which was built at [[Snapper Rocks]] in 1957<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51396052 |title=Girl with a dolphin |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=32 |issue=48 |location=Australia |date=28 April 1965 |access-date=20 September 2020 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia |quote='The idea of the show came to Mr. Evans about ten years ago when he put two dolphins in a small aquarium at his swimming baths at Snapper Rocks, Tweed Heads.' |archive-date=22 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103614/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/51396052 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51601651 |title=TEENAGERS' PARADISE |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=27 |issue=37 |location=Australia |date=17 February 1960 |access-date=20 September 2020 |page=9 (Teenagers' Weekly) |via=National Library of Australia |quote='One of the chief attractions on the border is Jack Evans' porpoise pool at Schnapper Rocks, beneath Point Danger.'}}</ref> and [[Gilltraps Auto Museum]] which was established at [[Kirra, Queensland|Kirra]] in 1959.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coolangatta|url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/node/7768|website=Queensland Places|access-date=29 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624022938/http://queenslandplaces.com.au/node/7768|archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>

Coolangatta Special School opened on 1 January 1979 on the Kirra Hill site vacated by the Coolangatta State School.<ref name=":0" /> On 1 July 2006 the school was relocated to Currumbin Waters and renamed Currumbin Community Special School.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="qfhs" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://currumbinspecs.eq.edu.au/our-school/history|title=History|date=1 June 2019|website=Currumbin Community Special School|language=en|access-date=6 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306135300/https://currumbinspecs.eq.edu.au/our-school/history|archive-date=6 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite QSA Agency|5670|Currumbin Community Special School|13 September 2020
}}</ref> Following local agitation from the "Save Kirra Hill" group, the school buildings at the Kirra Hill site were transferred to the [[Gold Coast City Council]] in 2008 for community purposes. The Council spent $3 million in restoration and refurbishment before officially opening the site as the Kirra Hill Cultural and Community Centre in October 2011.<ref name=":1" /> The Kirra Hill site is listed on the [[Gold Coast Local Heritage Register]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Gold Coast Local Heritage Register|url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/gc-local-heritage-register.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919110203/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/gc-local-heritage-register.pdf|archive-date=19 September 2016|access-date=29 May 2016|website=City of Gold Coast}}</ref>

To commemorate the centenary of Coolangatta, in 1984 a stone from the [[Coolangatta Estate]] homestead was donated by the citizens of [[Coolangatta, New South Wales|Coolangatta]] near [[Berry, New South Wales]] and was mounted on a plinth of granite from [[Aberdeen]], Scotland, the birthplace of [[Alexander Berry]].

=== Twenty-first century ===
The Coolangatta library opened in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 2017|title=Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016–17|url=http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130022546/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf|archive-date=30 January 2018|access-date=30 January 2018|website=Public Libraries Connect|publisher=[[State Library of Queensland]]|page=13}}</ref>

[[File:Qld Border Closure - Coolangatta Boundary St.jpg|thumb|right|Coolangatta as seen in April 2020, when Queensland closed the border to New South Wales in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.]]
During 2020 and 2021, the Queensland borders were closed to most types of traffic due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Queensland|COVID-19 pandemic]]. Border crossing points were either closed or had a [[Queensland Police]] checkpoint to allow entry to those with an appropriate permit. Griffith Street at Coolangatta was one of the police checkpoints, while other crossing points were closed.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-07-25|title=Crossing Qld-NSW border? Here's everything you need to know|language=en-AU|work=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-25/hard-border-nsw-qld-explainer/100276666|access-date=2022-01-24|archive-date=24 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124041053/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-25/hard-border-nsw-qld-explainer/100276666|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Coolangatta and its immediate neighbouring "Twin Town" [[Tweed Heads, New South Wales|Tweed Heads]] in [[New South Wales]] have a shared economy. The [[Tweed River, New South Wales|Tweed River]] supports a thriving [[fishing fleet]], and the seafood is a local specialty offered in the restaurants and clubs of the holiday and retirement region on both sides of the state border.

There are three hills in Coolangatta:

* '''Kirra Hill''' ({{coord|-28.1679|153.5333|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Kirra Hill}} ) at {{Convert|27|m||abbr=}} above sea level on the coast, which was named in 1883 by surveyor Schneider (1883) using an Aboriginal word which might mean ''[[white cockatoo]]'' or ''fire''<ref name="qpn183063">{{cite QPN|18306|Kirra Hill|hill in City of Gold Coast|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>
* '''Greenmount Hill''' ({{coord|-28.1652|153.5447|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Greenmount Hill}} ) at {{Convert|32|m||abbr=}} above sea level on the coast, which was named for the Greenmount Guest House, operated from 1905 by Patrick J. Fagan, and named after his birthplace in [[County Meath]], Ireland<ref name="qpn147933">{{cite QPN|14793|Greenmount Hill|hill in City of Gold Coast|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>
* '''Murraba''' ({{coord|-28.1752|153.5313|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Murraba (hill)|display=}} ) at {{Convert|70|m||abbr=}} above sea level on the border with New South Wales<ref name="qpn235933">{{cite QPN|23593|Murraba|hill in City of Gold Coast|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>

'''[[Point Danger (Tweed Heads)|Point Danger]]''' is a headland on the Queensland/New South Wales border ({{coord|-28.1641|153.5516|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Point Danger}}).<ref name="qpn93123">{{cite QPN|9312|Point Danger|point in City of Gold Coast|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref> It was widely believed to be named by Lieutenant [[James Cook]] on his [[First voyage of James Cook|1770 exploration of the eastern Australia coastline]] in [[HMS Endeavour|HMS ''Endeavour'']], but this is only partially correct. Cook did create the name, but he applied it to another headland further south (now known as [[Fingal Head, New South Wales|Fingal Head]]). This was confirmed in the 1823 map produced by explorer [[John Oxley]]. However a map published in 1831 based on the 1828 survey conducted on [[HMS Rainbow (1823)|HMS Rainbow]] applied the name Point Danger to the headland north of the [[Tweed River (New South Wales)|Tweed River]]. So while Cook created the name, he did not assign it to the current location.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gerritsen|first=Rupert|date=June 2013|title=A Dangerous Point: Fingal Head and Point Danger|url=https://www.anps.org.au/upload/June_2013.pdf|url-status=live|journal=Placenames Australia|pages=1, 4–7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121215514/https://www.anps.org.au/upload/June_2013.pdf|archive-date=21 November 2020}}</ref>

Rainbow Bay is offshore from the south-east of the suburb ({{coord|-28.1638|153.5470|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Rainbow Bay}}). It was originally called Shark/Sharks Bay until 1926 when the Coolangatta Town Council decided to rename it after HMS Rainbow, a [[sixth-rate]] frigate, commanded by Captain [[Henry John Rous]], used in surveys of the area in 1828.<ref name="Bays">{{Cite web|date=12 November 2020|title=Bays - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/7e779892-24a1-481f-ac87-7f371f7b3745|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125063709/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/7e779892-24a1-481f-ac87-7f371f7b3745|archive-date=25 November 2020|access-date=25 November 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite QPN|27920|Rainbow Bay|bay in Gold Coast City|access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>

There are three neighbourhoods within Coolangatta:

* [[Kirra, Queensland|Kirra]] ({{coord|-28.1675|153.5325|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=Kirra (neighbourhood)|display=}})  which takes its name from Kirra Hill<ref name="qpn18304">{{cite QPN|18304|Kirra|neighbourhood in City of Gold Coast|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>
* '''Greenmount''' ({{coord|-28.1658|153.5444|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=Greenmount (neighbourhood)|display=}} ) named after the guest house<ref name="qpn14786">{{cite QPN|14786|Greenmount|neighbourhood in City of Gold Coast|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>
* '''Rainbow Bay''' ({{coord|-28.1647|153.5477|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=Rainbow Bay (neighbourhood)|display=}} ) named after the bay<ref name="qpn27921">{{cite QPN|27921|Rainbow Bay|neighbourhood in City of Gold Coast|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>

[[Point Danger Lighthouse]] is located on the Point Danger headland ({{coord|-28.1650|153.5507|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Point Danger Lighthouse}}).<ref name="lighthouses">{{Cite web|date=18 November 2020|title=Lighthouses - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/4dd6d294-b17f-40a8-8cf6-21da0bb3a26c|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121204028/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/4dd6d294-b17f-40a8-8cf6-21da0bb3a26c|archive-date=21 November 2020|access-date=21 November 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref>

There are three beaches in the suburb, from west to east:
* Kirra Beach ({{coord|-28.1661
|153.5294|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Kirra Beach|display=}})<ref>{{Cite QPN|18305|Kirra Beach|beach in Gold Coast City|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>
* Coolangatta Beach ({{coord|-28.1667|153.5374|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Coolangatta Beach}})<ref name="qpn8078">{{cite QPN|8078|Coolangatta Beach|beach in City of Gold Coast|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>
* Greenmount Beach ({{coord|-28.1666|153.5426|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Greenmount Beach|display=}})<ref>{{Cite QPN|14791|Greenmount Beach|beach in Gold Coast City|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>
There is a breakwater extending from Kirra Hill in the ocean which protects Coolangatta Beach from erosion ({{coord|-28.1652|153.5363|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=breakwater}}).<ref name="Breakwaters">{{Cite web|date=18 November 2020|title=Breakwaters groynes and sea walls - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/ae214784-8ed0-4943-b59b-aa7d9253bf8a|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125051348/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/ae214784-8ed0-4943-b59b-aa7d9253bf8a|archive-date=25 November 2020|access-date=25 November 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref>

The [[Gold Coast Airport]], formerly known as Coolangatta Airport, is not located within the present suburb boundaries but within neighbouring [[Bilinga, Queensland|Bilinga]] with part of the runway extending across the border into Tweed Heads in New South Wales.<ref name="globe" />

=== Climate ===
Coolangatta has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfa'') with warm, wet summers and cool, moist winters. Although there is four times as much rainfall in March as there is in September, Coolangatta is still considered to have no dry season because there is more than a tenth of the rainfall of the wettest month in the driest month of the year.

{{Weather box
|location = Coolangatta
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 35.9	
|Feb record high C = 40.0
|Mar record high C = 34.6	
|Apr record high C = 32.9
|May record high C = 28.8		
|Jun record high C = 27.5		
|Jul record high C = 29.6	
|Aug record high C = 31.7		
|Sep record high C = 33.9
|Oct record high C = 35.6
|Nov record high C = 37.9
|Dec record high C = 38.0		
|year record high C = 40.0	
|Jan high C = 28.6
|Feb high C = 28.4
|Mar high C = 27.4
|Apr high C = 25.5
|May high C = 23.3
|Jun high C = 21.1
|Jul high C = 20.8
|Aug high C = 21.7
|Sep high C = 23.5
|Oct high C = 24.7
|Nov high C = 26.2
|Dec high C = 27.5
|year high C = 24.9
|Jan low C = 21.1
|Feb low C = 21.0
|Mar low C = 19.8
|Apr low C = 17.1
|May low C = 13.8
|Jun low C = 11.5
|Jul low C = 10.0
|Aug low C = 10.5
|Sep low C = 13.4
|Oct low C = 15.9
|Nov low C = 18.2
|Dec low C = 19.8
|year low C = 16.0
|Jan record low C = 13.5		
|Feb record low C = 15.0		
|Mar record low C = 12.7	
|Apr record low C = 7.3
|May record low C = 1.2	
|Jun record low C = 0.6		
|Jul record low C = -0.1		
|Aug record low C = 0.5
|Sep record low C = 3.0
|Oct record low C = 5.8
|Nov record low C = 9.3	
|Dec record low C = 12.2
|year record low C = -0.1	
|Jan precipitation mm = 159.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 196.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 202.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 157.8
|May precipitation mm = 129.3	
|Jun precipitation mm = 131.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 73.5	
|Aug precipitation mm = 54.8	
|Sep precipitation mm = 42.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 92.0	
|Nov precipitation mm = 115.5	
|Dec precipitation mm = 157.5
|year precipitation mm = 1510.7	
|Jan precipitation days =14.7	
|Feb precipitation days = 16.4
|Mar precipitation days =18.4	
|Apr precipitation days = 15.7	
|May precipitation days = 14.9	
|Jun precipitation days =13.0	
|Jul precipitation days = 10.2
|Aug precipitation days = 8.0	
|Sep precipitation days = 8.5	
|Oct precipitation days = 10.5	
|Nov precipitation days = 	12.1	
|Dec precipitation days = 13.8	
|year precipitation days =156.2	
|unit rain days     = 
|humidity colour=green
|Jan afthumidity = 69	
|Feb afthumidity = 69	
|Mar afthumidity = 67	
|Apr afthumidity = 64	
|May afthumidity = 62	
|Jun afthumidity = 60	
|Jul afthumidity = 56	
|Aug afthumidity = 56	
|Sep afthumidity = 61	
|Oct afthumidity = 66	
|Nov afthumidity = 68
|Dec afthumidity = 68	
|year humidity =64	
|source 1 = [[Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)|Bureau of Meteorology]]<ref>{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_040717|site_name=Coolangatta AWS|access-date=8 October 2022}}</ref>
|date=October 2022
}}

== Demographics ==
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Coolangatta had a population of 5,948 people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 2.2% of the population. The median age of people in Coolangatta was 50 years. 67.6% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 4.3% and England 4.0%. 80.2% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Portuguese at 1.7%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 32.3%, Catholic 21.9% and Anglican 15.4%.<ref name=Census2016>{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC30685|name=Coolangatta (SSC)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}</ref>

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Coolangatta had a population of 6,491 people.<ref name=Census2021>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL30680|name=Coolangatta (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}</ref>

== Education ==
Coolangatta State School is a government primary (Prep to Year 6) school for boys and girls at Stapylton Street ({{coord|-28.1720|153.5287|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Coolangatta State School}}).<ref name="SchoolList2018">{{cite web|date=9 July 2018|title=State and non-state school details|url=https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|archive-date=21 November 2018|access-date=21 November 2018|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Coolangatta State School|url=https://www.coolangattass.eq.edu.au|access-date=21 November 2018|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401180704/https://coolangattass.eq.edu.au/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 184 students with 19 teachers (14 full-time equivalent) and 11 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2018">{{cite web|title=ACARA School Profile 2018|url=https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx|access-date=28 January 2020|publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]]|archive-date=27 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827085246/https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx|url-status=live}}</ref>

There are no secondary schools in Coolangatta. The nearest government secondary school is [[Palm Beach Currumbin State High School]] in [[Palm Beach, Queensland|Palm Beach]] to the north-west.<ref name="globe" />

The Coolangatta campus of TAFE Queensland is a technical college at 5 Scott Street ({{coord|-28.1705|153.5399|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Coolangatta TAFE|display=}}).<ref name="LandmarkAreas">{{Cite web|date=18 November 2020|title=Landmark Areas - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/db9c913b-b7e2-4d88-9a5e-32cbb1470f12|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121195536/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/db9c913b-b7e2-4d88-9a5e-32cbb1470f12|archive-date=21 November 2020|access-date=21 October 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref>

== Facilities ==
[[File:Greenmount Beach seen from Greenmount Hill, Coolangatta, Queensland.jpg|thumb|Rainbow Bay seen from Greenmount Hill, Coolangatta]]
Coolangatta Magistrates Court is at 136 Musgrave Street ({{coord|-28.1689|153.5346|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Coolangatta Magistrates Court}}).<ref name="CommunityFacilities">{{Cite web|date=22 October 2020|title=Community facilities - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/536da964-19d2-42fb-9dd8-b46f15c4fb6f|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023081052/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/536da964-19d2-42fb-9dd8-b46f15c4fb6f|archive-date=23 October 2020|access-date=23 October 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref>

Coolangatta Police Station is on the corner of Musgrave and Mclean Streets ({{coord|-28.1689|153.5345|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Coolangatta police station}}).<ref name="emergencyservices">{{Cite web|date=12 November 2020|title=Emergency services facilities - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/2baca5c3-a111-4fbc-86c9-3b896884438b|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115100513/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/2baca5c3-a111-4fbc-86c9-3b896884438b|archive-date=15 November 2020|access-date=12 November 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref>

== Amenities ==
The [[Gold Coast City Council]] operate a public library ({{Coord|-28.1675|153.5378|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Coolangatta library}}) on Level 1 of the Strand Shopping Centre (between Marine Parade and Griffith Street, {{Coord|-28.1677|153.5381|display=|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Strand Shopping Centre}}).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/library/coolangatta-10089.html|title=Coolangatta Library|website=[[Gold Coast City Council]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130204455/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/library/coolangatta-10089.html|archive-date=30 January 2018|url-status=live|access-date=30 January 2018}}</ref>

Coolangatta Post Office is at ({{coord|-28.1683|153.5356|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Coolangatta Post Office}}).<ref name="CommunityFacilities" />

There are four [[Surf lifesaving|surf life saving]] clubs:

* Kirra Surf Life Saving Club is on Kirra Beach ({{coord|-28.1673|153.5320|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Kirra Surf Life Saving Club}})<ref name="CommunityFacilities" />
* Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club is on Coolangatta Beach ({{coord|-28.1669|153.5369|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club}})<ref name="CommunityFacilities" />
* Tweed Heads Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club (also known as Greenmount Surf Club) is on Greenmount Beach ({{coord|-28.1668|153.5445|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Tweed Heads Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club}})<ref name="CommunityFacilities" />
* Rainbow Bay Surf Life Saving Club is on Rainbow Bay ({{coord|-28.1635|153.5487|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Rainbow Bay Surf Life Saving Club}})<ref name="CommunityFacilities" />
The Coolangatta branch of the [[Queensland Country Women's Association]] meets at their hall at 169 Griffith Street ({{Coord|-28.1680|153.5431|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Coolangatta QCWA branch}}).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Branch Locations|url=http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226010724/http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/|archive-date=26 December 2018|access-date=26 December 2018|publisher=[[Queensland Country Women's Association]]}}</ref>

St Augustine's Catholic Church is on the corner of Mclean and Tweed Streets ({{Coord|-28.1708|153.5351|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=St Augustine's Catholic Church}}).<ref>{{Cite web|title=St Augustine's Church, Coolangatta|url=https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/parishes-mass-times/mass-centre/st-augustines-church-coolangatta/|access-date=2020-11-22|website=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane]]|language=en|archive-date=1 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201101617/https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/parishes-mass-times/mass-centre/st-augustines-church-coolangatta/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Twin Towns Coolangatta Uniting Church is at 26-28 Lanham Street (corner of  McLean Street, {{Coord|-28.1693|153.5356|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Twin Towns Coolangatta Uniting Church}}).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Find a church|url=https://ucaqld.com.au/find-a-church/|access-date=2020-11-22|website=Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod|language=en-AU|archive-date=12 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312193544/https://ucaqld.com.au/find-a-church/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to Twin Towns Uniting Church in Coolangatta|url=https://twintownsuniting.org.au/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806134329/https://twintownsuniting.org.au/|archive-date=6 August 2020|access-date=12 September 2021}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

== Sport ==
Coolangatta has many sports teams.

[[Coolangatta Tweed Heads Australian Football Club]] is a [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]] based club competing in the [[AFL Queensland]] [[Australian rules football]] competition.

The [[Coolangatta Tweed Barbarians]] compete in the [[Gold Coast and District Rugby Union]].

The Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club compete in the Winter Swimming Association of Australia Championships.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to Australian Winter Swimming|url=http://www.wsaainc.com/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204161521/http://www.wsaainc.com/|archive-date=4 February 2015|access-date=4 February 2015}}</ref>

Coolangatta Bowls Club is on the corner of Scott and Warner Streets ({{Coord|-28.1698|153.5390|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Coolangatta Bowls Club}}).<ref>{{Cite web|title=COOLY BOWLS CLUB|url=https://www.coolybowls.com/|access-date=2020-11-22|website=COOLY BOWLS CLUB|language=en-US|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122102743/https://www.coolybowls.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Coolangatta Croquet Club is at 42 Lanham Street ({{Coord|-28.1696|153.5372|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Coolangatta Croquet Club}}).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coolangatta Croquet Club|url=https://www.croquetqld.org/clubs/gold-coast-tweed/coolangatta-croquet-club|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122102940/https://www.croquetqld.org/clubs/gold-coast-tweed/coolangatta-croquet-club|archive-date=22 November 2020|access-date=2020-11-22|website=Croquet Queensland}}</ref>

The [[Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club]] is at Soorley Street in [[Tweed Heads South, New South Wales|Tweed Heads South]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.cooltweedgolf.com.au/cms/|access-date=2020-11-22|website=Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club|language=en|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122103347/https://www.cooltweedgolf.com.au/cms/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Events ==
Coolangatta hosts a number of sporting events: [[The Coolangatta Gold]] (surf life saving), [[Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast]] (surfing), [[Roxy Pro Gold Coast]] (surfing), and [[Beach Cricket Tri-Nations series]] (beach cricket).

Each June, Coolangatta hosts the Cooly Rocks On Festival, a two-week 1950s and 1960s nostalgia festival with free entertainment and attractions, including [[hot rod]]s, restored cars and revival bands playing music of the era.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.coolyrockson.com/|title=Cooly Rocks On|access-date=19 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617174605/http://www.coolyrockson.com/|archive-date=17 June 2016}}</ref>

Billy cart races have been organised on Boundary Street in Coolangatta, with the most recent occurrences of these organised in association with the Cooly Rocks On Festival.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Millar |first=Di |date=2009-07-05 |title=Rock roll winter & sun |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/tweed-heads/rock-roll-winter-sun/news-story/e00354ac69fffe7f648bfd5948078af3 |access-date=2024-08-29 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref>

== Attractions ==
[[File:Coolangatta Beach with Goldcoast skyline.jpg|thumb|Rainbow Bay Beach with Goldcoast skyline]]
The beaches are major attractions of Coolangatta. Popular lookouts and viewpoints include:

* Kirra Hill
* Greenmount Hill
* Snapper Rocks ({{Coord|-28.1622|153.5500|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Snapper Rocks}} ), named after [[HM Colonial Cutter Snapper]] which passed by Point Danger in July 1822 under the command of W.L. Edwardson<ref>{{Cite QPN|31326|Snapper Rocks|rock in Gold Coast City|access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
* Point Danger Lighthouse<ref name="TouristPoints">{{Cite web|date=18 November 2020|title=Tourist points - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/c0b6c26c-6bde-452c-b60a-d77b969b60d2|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121202239/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/c0b6c26c-6bde-452c-b60a-d77b969b60d2|archive-date=21 November 2020|access-date=21 November 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref>
* Kirra Beach Pavilion on Marine Parade ({{coord|-28.1665|153.5335|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Kirra Beach Pavilion|display=}})<ref name="TouristPoints" />
* Razorback Lookout on Razorback Road in neighbouring Tweed Heads ({{coord|-28.1809|153.5352|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Razorback Lookout}})<ref name="TouristPoints" />

== Heritage listings ==
[[File:Point Danger lighthouse.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Lighthouse]] at Point Danger, Coolangatta, Queensland – a heritage-listed memorial to Lieutenant [[James Cook]] of [[HM Bark Endeavour]] who named the Point and described the area during the voyage of 1770.]]
There are a number of heritage sites in Coolangatta, including:

* Boundary Street (New South Wales border): [[Point Danger Light|Captain Cook Memorial and Lighthouse]]{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - A to M, pp. 19-20</ref>
* Boundary Street (median strip): Francis Edward Roberts Commemorative Plaque{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - A to M, pp. 39-40</ref>
* Garrick Street (median strip to north of Musgrave Street): Powell Brothers Commemorative Trees{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - N to Z, pp. 99-100</ref>
* 1 Garrick Street: former Coolangatta State & Special School{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - A to M, pp. 25-26</ref>
* Lanham Street (Godwin Park): Coolangatta War Memorial{{Hsp}}<ref>{{cite web|date=5 June 2018|title=Coolangatta War Memorial|url=https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/Coolangatta_War_Memorial.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827015108/https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/local-heritage-register-28653.html|archive-date=27 August 2020|access-date=28 August 2020|website=[[Gold Coast Local Heritage Register]]}}</ref>
* Marine Parade (Kirra Beach): Kirra Beach Pavilion{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - A to M, pp. 63-64</ref>
* Marine Parade (Kirra Beach road reserve): Kirra Shelter Shed{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - A to M, pp. 65-66</ref>
* Marine Parade (Queen Elizabeth Park): ANZAC Memorial{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - A to M, pp. 1-2</ref>
* Marine Parade (Queen Elizabeth Park): Wreck of the Coolangatta Fragment{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - N to Z, pp. 151-152</ref>
* Marine Parade (Queen Elizabeth Park and Pat Fagan Park): Norfolk Pines Coolangatta Foreshore{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - N to Z, pp. 87-88</ref>
* Marine Parade (Pat Fagan Park, Greenmount Hill): United States Navy Coolangatta Leave Area Greenmount Hill Camp No. 4 Picnic Shelter{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - N to Z, pp. 151-153</ref>
* Marine Parade ({{coord|-28.1667|153.5445|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Tweed Heads and Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club}}): Tweed Heads and Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club (formerly Greenmount Surf Life Saving Club){{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - N to Z, pp. 141-142</ref>
* 31–33 Mclean Street ({{Coord|-28.1680|153.5352|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Jazzland Dance Hall}}): former [[Jazzland Coolangatta|Jazzland Dance Hall]]{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - A to M, pp. 59-60</ref>
* 58 McLean Street: St Augustine's Church{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - N to Z, pp. 107-108</ref>
* Mouth of Coolangatta Creek, North Kirra Beach: Site of the Wreck of the ''Coolangatta''{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - N to Z, pp. 117-118</ref>
* [[Snapper Rocks]] ({{coord|-28.1626|153.5501|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Jack Evans Porpoise Pool}}): Remains of Jack Evans Porpoise Pool{{Hsp}}<ref>Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - N to Z, pp. 103-104</ref>

== In popular culture ==
Coolangatta is featured in the song ''It's Hot in Brisbane but it's Coolangatta'', recorded in 1953 by Gwen Ryan, Claude Carnell's Orchestra and additional vocals from Doug Roughton's Hokey Pokey Club.<ref>National Film and Sound Archive: [http://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/sound/sounds-australia/songs-about-towns-and-places/#Brisbane Does your town have its own song?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319163418/http://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/sound/sounds-australia/songs-about-towns-and-places/ |date=19 March 2016}}</ref> Funded by 39 businesses, it is believed to be the first jingle written to promote an Australian tourist destination.<ref name=mdn>{{cite web|last=Mortimer|first=Luke|title=It's hot in Brisbane but it's Coolangatta|url=http://www.mydailynews.com.au/news/its-hot-in-brisbane-but-its-cool-an-gatta/1865389/|publisher=My Daily News|access-date=9 August 2013}}</ref> In 2008 the song was used as the theme for a Gold Coast Heritage exhibition about the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s on the Gold Coast, featuring oral histories and objects of Gold Coast residents.<ref name=gc>{{cite web|title=It's Hot in Brisbane but it's Coolangatta!|url=http://heritage.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Histories/Histories-of-Gold-Coast-City/Our-stories/On-line-exhibitions/It-s-hot-in-Brisbane-but-it-s-Coolangatta|publisher=Gold Coast City City Council|access-date=9 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029174716/http://heritage.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Histories/Histories-of-Gold-Coast-City/Our-stories/On-line-exhibitions/It-s-hot-in-Brisbane-but-it-s-Coolangatta|archive-date=29 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

The sport-romance film [[The Coolangatta Gold (film)|The Coolangatta Gold]] was set in the town. Coolangatta was also used as the fictitious town of Porpoise Spit in the 1994 film ''[[Muriel's Wedding]]''.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources ===
* {{Cite web|title=Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - A to M|url=https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/local-heritage-register-a-m.pdf|access-date=26 August 2020|website=[[Gold Coast City Council]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826202532/https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/local-heritage-register-a-m.pdf|archive-date=26 August 2020|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite web|title=Gold Coast Local Heritage Register - N to Z|url=https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/gc-local-heritage-register-n-z.pdf|access-date=26 August 2020|website=[[Gold Coast City Council]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826202123/https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/gc-local-heritage-register-n-z.pdf|archive-date=26 August 2020|url-status=live}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Coolangatta, Queensland}}
* [http://queenslandplaces.com.au/coolangatta University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Coolangatta]
*[http://nfsa.gov.au/blog/2013/05/02/southern-queensland-time-capsule/ National Film and Sound Archive: "It's Hot in Brisbane but it's Coolangatta"]: (embedded audio 2 mins 37 secs)
*[http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/primo_library/libweb/action/dlDisplay.do?vid=SLQ&docId=slq_voyager425858 Coolangatta: that's the place for me] – music score, digitised and held by the State Library of Queensland
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070308120044/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?PID=1001 Heritage Tour — Coolangatta]

{{Localities in Gold Coast}}
{{2018 Commonwealth Games venues}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Coolangatta| ]]
[[Category:1883 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1883]]
[[Category:Coastline of Queensland]]
[[Category:Suburbs of the Gold Coast, Queensland]]