Suburb profile: Tamborine Mountain is so much cooler than the Gold Coast
THE subtropical climate and rainforest is one of the many reasons people move to this highly desirable area, with temperatures usually at least five degrees cooler than other areas on the coast.
QLD News
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TAMBORINE Mountain is a small community of more than 7,000 residents nestled on a plateau in the Gold Coast hinterland.
The community is made up of the suburbs of North Tamborine, Eagle Heights and Mount Tamborine.
The subtropical climate and rainforest is one of the many reasons people move to the area, with temperatures usually at least five degrees cooler than other areas on the coast.
With regular markets, shops, rainforest and walking paths, waterfalls, tourist attractions and cooler temperatures, the area has become popular with both young families moving to the area and tourists alike.
The origin of the name Tamborine comes from the Anglicised version of the Aboriginal word ‘Jambreen’ from the Yugambeh language. That spelling also appears on early records as Tchambreem and even Goombireen, which means ‘wild lime’ and refers to the finger lime trees growing on the mountain.
The first National Park was created on Tamborine Mountain in 1908, with 17 sections of the park on the actual mountain.
The main spot for tourists in town is a row of shops selling everything from handmade craft to fudge is Gallery Walk along Long Road in Eagle Heights.
Short drives from town leads visitors to the Glow Worm Caves and the Cedar Creek winery, Curtis Falls among others, Thunderbird Park, Tamborine Mountain Rainforest Skywalk, Tamborine Mountain Distillery and a number of other attractions.
Another popular thing to do is to watch hang gliders launching off the mountain along Main Western Road.
That’s one thing Tamara Athique, 38, and her daughter, Kaya, 9, love to do.
“The hang gliders lookout is probably where most people take photos when you have a clear day,” she said.
“It’s also where Kaya and I go to watch the sunset and have a little sushi snack as a treat.”
Originally from the UK, Ms Athique said they moved to the area a few years ago from a small town in New Zealand.
“One reason I love Tamborine Mountain so much is because it’s so green and it reminds me of New Zealand,” she said.
“Plus it’s a small community and it’s very friendly and easy to get around. It’s a fantastic place to bring up kids, and the schools are excellent.”
Elizabeth Stirling, a Professionals Tamborine Mountain real estate agent, said she, her husband Phillip and then-11-year-old daughter, Hannah, moved to the area from country Victoria almost 20 years ago.
Ms Stirling said retirees or those seeking lifestyle changes were traditionally the main people moving to the mountain, but in recent years young families and professionals willing to commute to Brisbane or the Gold Coast had discovered the area.
“Our schools up here are brilliant,” she said.
“In the past it was probably older people moving here but now, because of the schools, professionals and families and are flocking here.
“People also look from intrastate as the climate is definitely appealing as we have four seasons here.”
The mountain community has two private and two public schools, as well as two childcare centres.
The schools include Tamborine Mountain State School, St Bernard State School, Tamborine Mountain State High School and the independent Tamborine Mountain College, which now offers primary school through to Year 12.
There are a number of ways to drive up to the Tamborine Mountain community, with the town being about 80km from Brisbane through Beenleigh and Tamborine, or along the Pacific Highway and up Oxendford-Tamborine Rd.
From the Gold Coast, commuters can take the Pacific Highway to the Oxenford-Tamborine Road, or through Nerang along the Nerang-Tamborine Road.
Ms Stirling said even many of the area’s homes were unique.
“The architecture is so varied, it’s not like they are brick boxes and look all the same,” she said.
“Even I’m still discovering properties tucked away, after 17 years in the real estate business here.
“And there’s acreage or you can get quarter acre blocks.”
Ms Stirling said the area had great infrastructure, grocery stores, restaurants, various arts and community programs and festivals and community spirit in general.
Cr Nigel Waistell says there are many activities and sports to keep the community residents busy, with the town council also preparing for tourists visiting for the Commonwealth Games being held on the Gold Coast from April 4-15.
“Tourism is our biggest industry and then, I suppose, the wedding industry is building up,” he said.
Some of the main street was being revitalised in time for the Commonwealth Games baton to come through the area between 12.30pm and 1pm April 1.
“We’ll also be putting in picnic shelters, pergolas, rock walls and some plaques for poetry spots,” he said.
“The poetry posts will either be spots where a piece of poetry will be put onto a post in recognition of a poet from the mountain or a poem about the mountain.”
Many local Tamborine Mountain businesses are also participating in a program where they display an individual country’s flag.
“The Chamber of Commerce have created a Commonwealth passport,” Cr Waistall said.
“Tourists buy it for $5 and get it stamped and obtain a discount at each of the businesses that have signed up to participate.”
One popular Tamborine Mountain restaurant was destroyed in a New Year’s Eve fire more than a year ago is scheduled to reopen by May or June, according to the owners.
Ania Sowter, co-owner of the Polish Place on Main Western Road, said she and husband, Phil, had hoped their restaurant and gallery would have been open by now, but building delays had held up the process.
The first step in getting back to business took place this month, with the couple reopening the five cottages on their property to guests for the first time since the fire destroyed their 34-year-old business and home on December 31, 2016.
Although the cottages, separate to the main building, escaped the fire, it was not possible to operate the two-person cabins while there was no other business to run.
The couple have been living in one of the cottages themselves.
“The cottages are designed for couples and are fully self-contained,” the restaurateur said.
“Each cottage has beautiful views of the Great Dividing Range, and they have a big lounge and dining area.
“The upper level is where the bedroom and spa is and where you can watch the views or the fireplace, which is beautiful in winter.”
One of the first restaurants to open on Mt Tamborine, the couple built the award-winning business from scratch in the early 1980s, and established it as a well-loved restaurant and boutique accommodation stop, known to attract everyone from locals to visiting dignitaries.
Fire broke out in the kitchen area of the beautiful timber chateau reminiscent of central Europe and a slice of Mrs Sowter’s home country.
The couple were woken by a smoke alarm and fled with their then 6-year-old grandson, Henry.
Their cat survived, but their beloved dachshund, Pinja, did not.
Among the town’s many business owners are Darren and Maryanne Jack, who are preparing to open their fifth business before the Commonwealth Games start.
Mr Jack and his family left the childcare industry in Sydney five years ago and moved to Tamborine Mountain for a better lifestyle with their sons, Brandon, now 20, and Joshua, now 19.
He had visited the area regularly as a child on holidays with his parents and liked how it was central to Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
The family already operate the dog-friendly Tall Trees Motel, Crema Lovers Café and Australian Outback Opals.
Mr Jack, 53, said he is about to open a gelato shop and gelato manufacturing plant on site, next to their cafe.
“We want to do something quite different with some of the gelato flavours,” he said.
“For example one we made was like a vegan, dairy free with Granny Smith gelato. Others will be a surprise.
“I’m hoping the gelato shop will be fully operational by the end of February,” he said.
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