Suburb profile: Logan’s ‘hidden gem’ Cornubia keeps getting better
BOASTING the highest median house price in its area, great schools, sporting and aged care facilities, and crystal clean air thanks to a huge amount of green space, this “hidden” suburb is loved by young and old.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- View from the body of the dragon
- Residents queue up for better access
- So much cooler than the Gold Coast
- Flood of new residents revives suburb
CORNUBIA, nestled between Shailer Park, Carbrook and Mount Cotton, is a leafy area with more than its fare share of great homes, green space, shopping and recreational facilities, yet is still not that well-known, its happy residents say.
Located about 30km southeast of Brisbane, the growing Logan City suburb had 7,317 residents according to the 2016 census, up from 6,833 residents in 2011.
Logan City Councillor Darren Power, said Cornubia was a “hidden gem” that was enhanced by the spectacular natural scenery of the Cornubia Forest Nature Preserve.
Various bird species, goannas, wallabies and koalas are often spotted in the suburb, due to the area containing one of the largest koala populations in the world.
Besides the forest, there were also wetlands nearby in Carbrook as well as plenty of other recreational opportunities at nearby parks suck as Skinners Park on Skinners Rd, Carbrook – which also has a public boat ramp.
Cr Power said there was also the cable ski park, Bayside Wake Park in nearby Carbrook, as well as the large Cornubia Park Sports Centre on Bryant’s Road and more.
“Cornubia is probably the most expensive area to live in Logan, going by the average median house price, but it has everything going for it,” he said.
“It has good housing and well-connected, local services.
“People go there for the nature. It has the largest amount of protected environmental land ... and so probably has the cleanest air around.”
The nature preserve, located on West Mount Cotton Rd, also contains part of the Koala Coast mountain biking trails that are spread throughout parts of Redland City, a southeastern portion of Brisbane city and the eastern portion of Logan City.
Lonnie Toia, 34, of Wakerly, said preserve is one of the forests he and his family ride their mountain bikes through regularly.
“From a mountain-biking perspective, the Cornubia forest is not advanced but it is not a trail for beginners either,” he said.
“It is better for people who have progressed from the nearby Daisy Hill State Forest, as Cornubia has more hills to it and they are a little bit more technical than what they are at Daisy.
“A good progression is to go from Daisy Hill then to Cornubia. Basically, you can use the same carpark at Daisy Hill then ride across for about one kilometre to Cornubia.”
Mr Toia said the forest was also great for trail running, with some forest visitors also enjoying long hikes along some of the trails.
He said the trails were originally created in conjunction with the Logan City Council, and are maintained, by the Logan Community Trailcare Alliance.
“It’s there for people to use, whether you run or walk,” he said.
Jill Carter, Principal of Harcourt’s Living in Cornubia, said while the area had a variety of housing types, the suburb itself stayed off most people’s radar.
According to the 2016 Census, a majority of residents were families with children, while the majority of homes have three or four bedrooms.
“I think people think it’s all acreage here, or the perception everywhere I go is, where is Cornubia?’,” she said. “Yet, we have townhouses right through to acreage.”
Ms Carter, 56, said townhouses start about $300,000 with small three bedroom houses available from the early $400,000.
“Then you can pick up something not quite renovated, or maybe between 20 to 30 years old, for between $500 to $600,000,” she said.
“It goes up in increments out here, right up to the millions market.”
There were also two gated, residential estates in the area, including Logandale Estate on Logandale Blvd, and the newer California Creek Estate on California Creek Rd.
Getting the weekly grocery shopping done is a breeze with the suburb boasting a range of options close to home.
The newest shopping complex, Cornubia Shopping Centre, opened on the corner of Redland Bay and Bryant’s roads, on the border of Loganholme, in the past two years.
The growing complex comprises a Woolworths, restaurants, smaller retails stores, medical offices and more.
Besides it and the Riverlakes Shopping Village on Beenleigh-Redland Bay Rd, right near the Logandale Estate, the suburb is also only a few minute’s drive to the large, Logan Hyperdome shopping centre.
Ms Carter said buses left from Cornubia to go to the Hyperdome from various parts of Cornubia, where passengers could change to go to other destinations, including to the Gold Coast or the city.
“Down the road in the other direction, there is also the Sirromet Winery and it’s only about a 15 minute drive to Redland Bay,” she said.
“There are also really good schools, so there are predominately families in this area.
“However, there is also a good mix of retirees, couples and single people as well.”
Kevin Hall, a building designer with the Residential Design Group, has lived and worked in Cornubia for more than 20 years, first buying land that backs on to Chisholm Catholic College in 1991.
Mr Hall, 48, and his wife Andrea, 49, later built a house and raised their daughters Keely, 18, and Allie, 17, in the area.
“When I bought the land there were about 400 kids at the school, and now there are about 1100,” he said.
Other schools in or near Cornubia include St Matthews Catholic Primary School, Kimberley College, Shailer Park primary and high schools, Kimberley Park State Primary School, Calvary Christian College and Carbrook State Primary School.
Mr Hall said despite the growth over the years, Cornubia still remained a great place to live, with easy access to the M1 or out to Redland Bay.
“There are a few more people about and it’s busier with a few more estates built, yet it’s still a nice, quiet area,” he said.
“It’s easier to get everywhere. It’s about five minutes to the freeway to get to the Gold Coast or Brisbane and we often go to Cleveland Point or Victoria Point for fish and chips on a Sunday afternoon.
“We also don’t live too far from the Cornubia forest, where we often go for bike rides.”
Retirees and the elderly will soon be better catered for in Cornubia as well, with construction of a new “premium” aged care home in progress before an anticipated opening date in 2019.
Owned by Gold Coast-based Infinite Aged Care, the 133-bed Cornubia Residential Care Service is being built over 1.3 hectares of green space.
Located at 136-140 Beenleigh-Redland Bay Rd, the nursing home will have eight wings, including a gym and wellness centre, theatre, dining and lounge areas, administration centre and function room, all spread over three levels.
An Infite Care spokeswoman said all bedrooms would have ensuites with residents permitted to decorate whatever way made them feel more at home and encouraged to be independent.
“We pride ourselves on service excellence and offering residents that come to us a home and extended family,” she said.
“There will be a different range of rooms, so they will be at different price points as will have different inclusions. It will cater for a wide variety of tastes and budgets.
“Our company tries to create is a really about resident belonging and that they have familiarity and a lot of opportunity in their personal living space.”
The spokeswoman said the residential home would have nursing staff rostered on 24 hours a day.
Care service options will range from low need to dementia services through to respite and palliative care.
The Cornubia aged care home will be very similar to the company’s most recent home out near Toowoomba.
The spokeswoman said there was a strong demand in the market for older care, as well as a demand for a more “premium” option for a nursing home.
‘Sickening’ moment Brisbane bus driver brutally attacked by passenger
Footage has emerged of a bus driver being attacked on public transport in Brisbane, as the Union share their concerns for the safety of their drivers.
I spent $500k to look like this: Influencer’s confession shocks fans
A Gold Coast influencer and reality TV star has sparked fierce debate after revealing how much she spent on her appearance. WE’VE GOT THE SCOOP