Robina is one of the first master-planned residential communities in Australia.[4] During its construction it was the largest master-planned community in Australia.[5]
In 1980, Singaporeanreal estate developer, Robin Loh, and local property developer, Arthur Earle, purchased 20 square kilometres (7.7 sq mi) of land in the southern Gold Coast, west of Broadbeach.[6] The acquired land, which had previously been used for grazing, would become the suburb of Robina.[6]
Engaging international urban designers Moshe Safdie and Robert Lamb Hart,[4] Dr Loh formed the Robina Land Corporation, which spearheaded the development of Robina into a residential and commercial hub now home to more than 30,000 people and with a workforce 20,000 strong. Robina is considered one of Australia's most successful planned communities,[6] and is one of the Gold Coast's fastest growing suburbs. In the decade from 2001 to 2011 Robina experienced population growth of 4.8 per cent per annum.
The name Robina was officially gazetted on 11 May 1985.[2] The name is a combination of "Robin" (Loh's given name) and "a" (for Arthur Earle).[7]
In the original plan, Kerrydale was to be a separate suburb zoned for a golf course, hotel, accommodation and public space to the south-east of the Robina Town Centre. Kerrydale was officially approved on 20 Ferurary 1989 and can be seen on maps of that period.[9][10] However, it was legislated in the Local Government (Robina Town Centre Planning Agreement) Bill 1992 that Kerrydale would be amalgamated into Robina.[11] On 19 May 1995 the boundaries of Robina were officially extended to absorb Kerrydale.[2]
Robina State High School opened on 29 January 1996.[8][12]
The Robina Library opened in 2000 with a major refurbishment in 2013.[13]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Robina had a population of 23,106. 59.8% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 8.1%, England 6.2%, China 2.7%, South Africa 2.0% and Japan 1.4%. 78.0% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 3.3%, Japanese 1.9%, Cantonese 1.4%, Korean 0.8% and Spanish 0.6%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 31.6%, Catholic 21.3% and Anglican 15.2%.[14]
In the 2021 census, Robina had a population of 25,659 people.[3]
Transport
Robina has three main arterial roads connecting the suburb with other parts of the Gold Coast. The Pacific Motorway (M1) connects the suburb with the northern suburbs of the Gold Coast as well as Brisbane City. The M1 also travels south, passing the Gold Coast Airport and travels into New South Wales. Robina Parkway is the second main arterial road in the suburb and runs from the M1 Exit 82 (Robina Parkway/Somerset Drive) interchange north crossing Cheltenham Drive, Markeri St, Boowaggan Road and connects Robina with Nerang-Broadbeach Road. Bermuda Street connects Robina north to Bundall Road and south to Burleigh with interchanges at Cottesloe Drive and Markeri St.
Robina, 2015
Robina has two main bus stations. One located at Robina railway station and the other one, Robina Town Centre bus station being located at Robina Town Centre. Buses currently operate at regular and high frequency intervals, servicing the suburb of Robina as well as the neighbouring suburbs, extending as far as Tweed Heads and as far north as Southport.
In 2012, Gold Coast City Council released a draft of its 2031 Transport Strategy which outlined future extensions of the Gold Coast Rapid Transit system. Under the strategy Council has proposed a line to run from Robina to Nobby Beach. In its Transport Strategy Council has also proposed to deliver a rapid bus network by 2014, which would offer services from Robina south to Coolangatta and north to Paradise Point.
Robina is home to one of the two public hospitals on the Gold Coast. The Robina Hospital was originally a private hospital and was purchased by Queensland Health in 2002. An Emergency Department was built in 2007 and a larger expansion opened in 2011 doubling the size of the hospital to 364 beds, making it the sixth largest in Queensland. The new development includes clinical teaching facilities for Bond University.
The Robina Health Precinct, which opened in 2012, is located on a nearby site to the Robina Hospital and houses community and sub-acute services. Ongoing development of health services in Robina has seen the creation of a healthcare hub in the suburb, with the Robina Health Precinct, Robina Hospital and additional community health services located at the Campus Alpha building all located within 350 metres of each other.
In November 2016 Healthe Care Australia opened Robina Private Hospital, a $24.6 million purpose-built hospital providing specialist mental health and medical services located on Bayberry Lane adjacent to the public Robina Hospital, adding to the growing Robina Health Precinct. Stage One, a 90-bed, three level hospital with group therapy rooms and consulting suites, delivers private mental health and general medicine services for inpatients, day patients and outpatients. The masterplan for the site outlines future development phases with an additional 54 beds as well as surgical services including operating theatres and imaging.
Sporting facilities
Robina Town Centre is the location for Robina Stadium, which was completed in early 2008. The stadium has a seating capacity of over 27,000, and is rectangular, meeting the requirements of rugby league, football and rugby union. The stadium is home to the Gold Coast Titans NRL team since 2008 and the Queensland Country NRC team since 2014. It was also the home to the now defunct Gold Coast United soccer team from 2009 to 2012.
The Robina City Parklands Project is a new 20 hectare park on Stadium Drive in Robina. The first stage of construction, which involved bulk earthworks, is now complete. Construction of the parklands and associated facilities will commence in the second half of 2021.
