Explore Springbrook

Springbrook covers an area of about 5270 hectares or approximately  52.7 square kilometres (13022 acres). It has 12 parks covering nearly 55.6% of the total area. It had a recorded population of approximately 705 people (at the 2021 Australian Census). 

69.6% of people living in Springbrook were born in Australia.  The other top responses for country of birth were England 5.4% New Zealand 5.0%, South Africa 1.1%, France 0.9%, Switzerland 0.9%.

There are approx. 406 private dwellings in Springbrook (97.6% separate houses, other or not stated 2.4%).

Of the occupied private dwellings, 78.1% were owned, 12.8% rented and 4.8% other or not stated.

It is surrounded by the suburbs of Austinville, Mudgeeraba, Natural Bridge, Neranwood, Numinbah and Numinbah Valley.

Springbrook is a mountain and plateau in the Gold Coast hinterland west of the M1 Motorway 30 - 45 minutes from Mudgeeraba / Nerang.  It is also the name of the associated town and locality being just 24 kilometres from Mudgeeraba or 36 km Nerang and 105 km from Brisbane.

Road access is via:

• Mudgeeraba (Exit 79 from the north, exit 80 from the south on the M1 Motorway) via the Gold Coast-Springbrook Road, and
• Nerang (Exit 69 from M1 Motorway) via Nerang-Murwillumbah Road and Pine Creek Road

The highest point, known as Springbrook Mountain is almost 1000 metres above sea level. The plateau is blanketed in subtropical rainforest and crossed by many small creeks.

 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 World Heritage Springbrook National Park.

Living in Springbrook

Unspoiled by excessive commercialization and with that highly sought-after “miles from anywhere feeling”  Springbrook offers low-density family-friendly living on a Mountain which is part of the ancient Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.

Here you can live amongst a warm tight-knit community of environmentally conscious, friendly faces and helping hands. Beautiful mountain homes co-exist with nature in a peaceful and quiet environment with a range of living options from standard house blocks to small and large acreages, some with breathtaking views.

The township of Springbrook is surrounded by World Heritage National Park and so the rainfall is one of the highest in the state (and essential for the pristine rainforest to flourish).

Residents share this beautiful place with a myriad of wonderful wildlife with over 100 types of birds (including the rare Albert’s Lyrebird, only found in Springbrook, to rosellas and bowerbirds,  frogs and reptiles plus a plethora of plant and tree species, some over 2,000 years old.

During our Queensland summer (Nov-Feb) Springbrook’s elevation (990 metres above sea level at the highest point) means you can escape from the heat of the coast and enjoy the cool mountain air. During the winter months (June to Sept) experience bright blue skies & snuggle up with a wood fire at night.

The small Springbrook township represents true mountain living whilst offering locals the convenience of a general store and restaurant and several eating places with shaded decks, cosy fires or gardens full of colourful parrots.

The Local Springbrook State School caters for primary children from Prep & Kindergarten through to year 6 and the Springbrook Bus Service operates daily between Springbrook and Mudgeeraba / Robina and all the local schools.

Springbrook National Park:

Springbrook offers spectacular waterfalls, lush rainforest, ancient trees, impressive views, exceptional ecological importance and natural beauty. Springbrook National Park is part of the Gondwana Rainforest of Australia World Heritage Area.  In Springbrook National Park you’ll find some of the most ancient vegetation in Australia, whose roots date back over 100 million years ago.

Several vantage points on the Springbrook plateau provide extensive views of the surrounding ranges, foothills and the coastline. Other constructed lookouts, provide safe viewing and are easily accessible via a short walk.

There are many outstanding walks to choose from.  The most accessible and popular trail is Natural Bridge which takes about an hour to complete.

The two-hour, 4km return Twin Falls Circuit walk will take you past waterfalls and rockpools and Purling Brook Falls offers a 4 km return walk with dramatic views of the waterfall from the gorge below.  It is accessed by a suspension bridge that hangs over the creek and rainforest canopy.

There are also several longer distance tracks with outstanding views to conquer!
To download some detailed information and walking track maps click here.

History of Springbrook:

The first human inhabitants of the Springbrook Plateau, were our First Australians, the Yugambeh people,  whose occupation can be traced back thousands of years.  Many of the waterfalls & lookouts carry the Yugambeh name for these sites.

The first parcels of land for settlement were made available under a land ballot in 1906 under freehold tenure.  People selected in the ballot were required to occupy the land for a minimum of 5 year and make certain improvements to qualify.

The blocks of land were graded according to fertility and location and they cost £2 per acre for first class blocks and £1 per acre for second class blocks.

Farmers arrived to clear the land from as far away as Cobargo, Central Tilba and Bermagui on the NSW South Coast.

Dairying was encouraged but the settlers found farming difficult and instead cleared for the land for timber.

Springbrook, known as “Land of the Tall Timber” by timber-getters, was originally called Springwood, however it was changed to Springbrook in 1907 to avoid confusion with mail deliveries to another Springbrook located in the Blue Mountains of NSW.

In 1906 an access road was still under construction. It was hand built, using pick and shovel, by the prisoners of Boggo Road Jail in Brisbane.

Dwellings constructed by the early settlers in most cases consisted of slab huts  with stringybark roofing.

Provisions were purchased from Nerang and transported by horse-drawn transport to the junction of Pine Creek Road and the Numinbah Valley Road. From here it was carried by workers on their backs.

Springbrook opened its first State School on 25 April 1911 and in 1914 a track to Mudgeeraba was upgraded for wheeled traffic. An improved road was built commencing in 1925 and completed in 1928.

This upgraded road enabled the establishment of the first guesthouse in Springbrook in1925.  By the end of the 1930’s there were seven guesthouses plus self-contained accommodation and cafes. These were serviced by a bus transfer from Southport to Springbrook which became known as Queensland’s ‘premier mountain resort’.  In 1947 the Springbrook community hall had been built.

By the 1970’s the estimated population of Springbrook was just 50 people due to the decline in dairying, and the local school closed in 1971.

The next decade saw a revival in Springbrook’s popularity, driven by retirees, day trippers and those seeking an alternate lifestyle. In 1984, the current Springbrook school was built.

Local Connections:

If you would like to link up with local residents and local business operators, why not visit the Springbrook Mountain Community Association's facebook page here or My Springbrook blogspot here.

It is only around 25 minutes drive down the mountain to Mudgeeraba Village shopping, fuel & facilities and a vast range of sporting options for the whole family.  Just a few minutes more and you’ll be in the large hub of Robina offering Robina Town Centre shopping, two hospitals and a growing medical precinct, railway and Robina State High School.  (NB: There is no petrol available on the mountain).