# Tugun, Queensland

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Tugun (/ˈtjuːɡən, ˈtuː-/ TEW-gən, TOO-) is a beach-side coastal suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Tugun had a population of 7,175 people.
It borders New South Wales. Some locals refer to the suburb by the nickname of Tugz (pronounced CHOOGZ).

## Geography

Tugun is situated at the junction of the Pacific and Gold Coast highways 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north-west of Coolangatta and 97 kilometres (60 mi) south of Brisbane, the state capital.
Tugun Heights is a neighbourhood in the western and more elevated parts of the suburb (28°09′06″S 153°29′06″E﻿ / ﻿28.1516°S 153.485°E﻿ / -28.1516; 153.485﻿ (Tugun Heights)).
Flat Rock is a flat rocky area along the beach that marks the boundary between Tugun and neighbouring Currumbin to the north (28°08′15″S 153°29′35″E﻿ / ﻿28.1375°S 153.4930°E﻿ / -28.1375; 153.4930﻿ (Flat Rock)).
Tugun Beach (28°08′33″S 153°29′47″E﻿ / ﻿28.1424°S 153.4964°E﻿ / -28.1424; 153.4964﻿ (Tugun Beach)) extends from Flat Rock south to the boundary with neighbouring Bilinga to the south-east, although the beach itself continues along the Bilinga coast but is known there as Bilinga Beach.
Tugun is a popular vacation spot, featuring several holiday units and motels along Tugun Beach. The area also boasts a variety of shops situated along its Golden-Four Drive stretch. The Jolly Swagman motel owner proposed naming the section of the former Brisbane to Sydney Highway nearest the beaches "Golden Four Drive." A new highway was constructed further to the west and the local Council consulted with the community for suggestions about naming the bypassed section of the older highway. "Golden Four" was a local name that referred to the four southern golden beaches of Tugun Beach, Bilinga Beach, North Kirra Beach (in Bilinga), and Kirra Beach (in Kirra).
The Gold Coast Oceanway, a pedestrian and cyclist pathway, connects Tugun with neighbouring Currumbin and Bilinga.

## History

The name Tugun is believed to have derived from an Indigenous word of unknown dialect meaning "breaking waves".
Tugun Baptist Church opened in February 1925 on two parcels of land donated by Mrs J. H. Morgan.
In 1959, St Monica's Catholic Church was opened, able to accommodate 150 people. In 1970, it was extended by half. In 1990, it was re-oriented and extended by half again. In 1996, St Monica's Samaritan Centre was established beside the church; it is used by Centacare to provided services for disabled people.
Tugun Bowls Club was established in 1967.
All Saints' Anglican Church was dedicated on 1 November 1980 by Bishop Administror Ralph Wicks. It was conscrecrated on 11 November 1984 by Archbishop John Grindrod. Its closure on 22 September 1999 was approved by Assistant Bishop Ron Williams.
The junction of the Pacific and Gold Coast highways was notoriously traffic-clogged but has improved markedly upon completion of the Tugun Bypass in June 2008.

## Demographics

In the 2011 census, Tugun recorded a population of 5,976 people, 51.1% female and 48.9% male. The median age of the Tugun population was 39 years, 2 years above the national median of 37. 76.1% of people living in Tugun were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were New Zealand 5.3%, England 4%, Scotland 0.6%, Japan 0.6%, Canada 0.5%. 89.5% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 0.7% Japanese, 0.5% Portuguese, 0.4% Italian, 0.4% Mandarin, 0.3% Spanish.
In the 2016 census, Tugun had a population of 6,588 people.
In the 2021 census, Tugun had a population of 7,175 people.

## Heritage listings

There are a number of heritage sites in Tugun, including:
* 16 San Michele Street: Ar Dee (beach house)
* Toolona Street (corner Golden Four Drive): Tugun Hotel Moreton Bay Fig Tree

## Education

There are no schools in Tugun. The nearest government primary school is Currumbin State School in neighbouring Currumbin to the north. The nearest government secondary school is Palm Beach - Currumbin State High School in Palm Beach to the north.

## Facilities

John Flynn Private Hospital is at 42 Inland Drive (28°09′14″S 153°29′18″E﻿ / ﻿28.1539°S 153.4882°E﻿ / -28.1539; 153.4882﻿ (John Flynn Private Hospital)). It provides acute cardiac care in addition to general medical and surgical services.

## Amenities

The Gold Coast City Council operated a fortnightly mobile library service which visited Station Street and Toolona Street, but this was paused indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
St Monica's Catholic Church is at 485 Golden Four Drive (28°08′29″S 153°29′34″E﻿ / ﻿28.1415°S 153.4929°E﻿ / -28.1415; 153.4929﻿ (St Monica's Catholic Church)).
The Living Template Church (formerly Tugun Baptist Church) is at 24 Toolona Street (28°08′41″S 153°29′35″E﻿ / ﻿28.1448°S 153.4930°E﻿ / -28.1448; 153.4930﻿ (Living Temple Church (former Tugun Baptist Church))).
Tugun Bowls Club is in Kaleena Street (28°08′51″S 153°29′36″E﻿ / ﻿28.1474°S 153.4932°E﻿ / -28.1474; 153.4932﻿ (Tugun Bowls Club)). It has three lawn bowling greens with restaurant and bar facilities available to members and visitors.
Tugun Surf Lifesaving Club is on the beachfront at 29 O'Connor Street (28°08′31″S 153°29′42″E﻿ / ﻿28.1419°S 153.4951°E﻿ / -28.1419; 153.4951﻿ (Tugun Surf Lifesaving Club)). In addition to patrolling the beach in the warmer months, the club also participates in lifesaving sports events and has bistro and bar facilities.
A number of well-known sporting teams represent the local area, including the Tugun Seahawks, the local rugby league club who play home games at Betty Diamond Complex.
Other amenities in the suburb include the Tugun Tavern.

### Parks

There are a number of parks in the area:
* Admiral Crescent Reserve (28°09′12″S 153°29′26″E﻿ / ﻿28.1532°S 153.4906°E﻿ / -28.1532; 153.4906﻿ (Admiral Crescent Reserve))
* Alex Griffiths Park (28°08′16″S 153°29′21″E﻿ / ﻿28.1377°S 153.4892°E﻿ / -28.1377; 153.4892﻿ (Alex Griffiths Park))
* Blamey Park (28°08′32″S 153°29′10″E﻿ / ﻿28.1422°S 153.4862°E﻿ / -28.1422; 153.4862﻿ (Blamey Park))
* Boyd Park (28°09′26″S 153°29′36″E﻿ / ﻿28.1571°S 153.4934°E﻿ / -28.1571; 153.4934﻿ (Boyd Park))
* Golden Four Park (28°08′45″S 153°29′46″E﻿ / ﻿28.1457°S 153.4962°E﻿ / -28.1457; 153.4962﻿ (Golden Four Park))
* Honeymoon Tree Park (28°08′52″S 153°29′45″E﻿ / ﻿28.1477°S 153.4957°E﻿ / -28.1477; 153.4957﻿ (Honeymoon Tree Park))
* Inland Drive Reserve (28°09′16″S 153°29′24″E﻿ / ﻿28.1544°S 153.4900°E﻿ / -28.1544; 153.4900﻿ (Inland Drive Reserve))
* Irene Street Reserve (28°09′09″S 153°29′40″E﻿ / ﻿28.1525°S 153.4945°E﻿ / -28.1525; 153.4945﻿ (Irene Street Reserve))
* Kropp Park (28°08′16″S 153°29′30″E﻿ / ﻿28.1377°S 153.4918°E﻿ / -28.1377; 153.4918﻿ (Kropp Park))
* Kurrawong Park (28°08′26″S 153°29′24″E﻿ / ﻿28.1405°S 153.4901°E﻿ / -28.1405; 153.4901﻿ (Kurrawong Park))
* Littleford Family Park (28°08′28″S 153°29′08″E﻿ / ﻿28.1411°S 153.4856°E﻿ / -28.1411; 153.4856﻿ (Littleford Family Park))
* Mulberry Parade Reserve (28°09′12″S 153°29′34″E﻿ / ﻿28.1534°S 153.4928°E﻿ / -28.1534; 153.4928﻿ (Mulberry Parade Reserve))
* Rosewater Reserve (28°09′13″S 153°29′17″E﻿ / ﻿28.1537°S 153.4881°E﻿ / -28.1537; 153.4881﻿ (Rosewater Reserve))
* Singh Park (28°08′52″S 153°29′19″E﻿ / ﻿28.1478°S 153.4885°E﻿ / -28.1478; 153.4885﻿ (Singh Park))
* Starfish Court Parklands (28°09′14″S 153°29′36″E﻿ / ﻿28.1539°S 153.4934°E﻿ / -28.1539; 153.4934﻿ (Starfish Court Parklands))
* Toolona Park (28°08′44″S 153°29′12″E﻿ / ﻿28.1455°S 153.4868°E﻿ / -28.1455; 153.4868﻿ (Toolona Park))
* Triton Parade Reserve (28°09′17″S 153°29′31″E﻿ / ﻿28.1547°S 153.4919°E﻿ / -28.1547; 153.4919﻿ (Triton Parade Reserve))
* Tugun Hill Conservation Area (28°08′54″S 153°28′56″E﻿ / ﻿28.1482°S 153.4822°E﻿ / -28.1482; 153.4822﻿ (Tugun Hill Conservation Area))
* Tugun Park (28°08′59″S 153°29′56″E﻿ / ﻿28.1498°S 153.4990°E﻿ / -28.1498; 153.4990﻿ (Tugun Park))
* Wyberba Street Parklands (28°08′32″S 153°29′44″E﻿ / ﻿28.1422°S 153.4955°E﻿ / -28.1422; 153.4955﻿ (Wyberba Street Parklands))

## Notable people

* Schapelle Corby, convicted drug trafficker, lived in Tugun