| Springbrook Gold Coast, Queensland |
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Springbrook Plateau (left of image) |
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| Established: | 1906[1] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode: | 4213 | ||||||||||||
| Location: | 42 km (26 mi) from Southport | ||||||||||||
| LGA: | Gold Coast City Council | ||||||||||||
| State District: | Electoral district of Mudgeeraba | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division: | McPherson | ||||||||||||
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Springbrook is a suburb, mountain and plateau in the Gold Coast hinterland of South East Queensland. The highest point, known as Springbrook Mountain is 900 metres (3,000 ft) high. The area offers excellent views to the Gold Coast and is known for its cliffs, waterfalls and forest walks, most of which are protected in the Springbrook National Park.
Road access to this eastern Scenic Rim mountain is via Mudgeeraba. To the south of Springbrook is the Tweed Range, west is the Numinbah Valley and the Lamington Plateau. Both the Nimmel Range and Tambourine Mountain are to the north.
Springbrook was the site for a trial that involved 200 distributed, wireless sensors that can monitor natural conditions such as humidity, temperature, light, rainfall, fog, water quality and sound.[2] The cutting edge technology was developed by the CSIRO to assist research into the restoration of natural vegetation.
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Springbrook Plateau is the remains of the Tweed Volcano—now known as Mount Warning.[3] The plateau is an undulating elevated patch that extends north from the southern, forested heights, close to Mount Cougal, just to the east. These subtropical rainforests are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia and contain the rare Antarctic beech trees.[3]
Notable lookouts on the plateau include Best of All Lookout, overlooking the Tweed Valley directly south of Springbrook, as well as Canyon, Goomoolahra and Purlingbrook lookouts.[4] Springbrook features the Purlingbrook Falls, which is a major tourist attraction as well as Goomoolahra Falls. Another major tourist attraction on the mountain is the English Gardens known for its tulips and other English bulbs that flower in Spring.[4]
The plateau is highly visible on the western horizon from the Gold Coast coastal strip. Springbrook Plateau is in the water catchment area for Tallebudgera Creek and the larger Nerang River dammed by the Hinze Dam, a significant part of the region's water supply infrastructure.
Due to its close proximity to the coast, the high elevations and subtropical latitude, Springbrook has a wet climate with mild temperatures. During a remarkable rainy period, Springbrook received 1,631mm in the month of June 1967.[5]
In 1906, settlers arrived from northern New South Wales. They found farming difficult and instead cleared for the land for timber.[1] By the 1930s Springbrook was almost completely cleared of trees.[6] In 1911 a school opened and by 1947 a community hall had been built.[1] Tourism has been the major industry since the 1920s, with many guesthouses opening during this period.[1]
Springwood was the first name chosen for the locality, however it was changed to Springbrook to avoid confusion with mail deliveries to another Springwood located in the Blue Mountains.[6]
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