Development in the area today mostly incorporates low rise structures, consisting of single bedroom houses and apartment blocks. Much of the suburb consists of canal waterways, including Lake Intrepid that are linked to the Nerang River. The suburb contains a major road intersection between Nerang - Broadbeach Road and the Gold Coast Highway.
History
In circa 1924, 70 allotments were advertised as "Mermaid Beach Estate" located at Mermaid Beach and Broadbeach to be auctioned by R. G. Oates Estates. The estate map has 3 estates for sale at Mermaid Beach and Broadbeach. The estates were divided in two by the "New Coastal Road" running through the Gold Coast. Broadbeach State School opened on 16 May 1960.
Aboriginal burial ground
In 1965, building works unearthed what was found to be an Aboriginal burial ground. An archaeological dig commenced under Laila Haglund, who was under the supervision of the University of Queensland, and the remains of more than 150 Aboriginal people of the Kombumerri clan of the Yugambeh people were moved. It was established that the people had been buried from up to 1000 years ago until the late 1800s. The excavation report was published in 1976, and described as "pioneer archaeological research". Haglund earned an MA from the University of Queensland and a PhD from Stockholm University for her work on the site. In 1988, the remains were repatriated to the Gold Coast Aboriginal community, and reburied not far from the original burial ground. This event played an important role in the development of the state's first cultural heritage legislation, the Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1967, which recognises the status of Indigenous Australians as the "primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Australia’s ancient cultures". The event was commemorated on its 50th anniversary in 2015, hosted by the Queensland Government and the Gold Coast Historical Society, with Haglund a key speaker.
Events
The Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival, held in May each year is one of Australia's largest Free Blues Festivals which began in 2002 and continues to draw significant crowds each year, while remaining a free outdoor event for people of all ages to attend. Broadbeach also hosts other significant including the Groundwater Country Music Festival, Gold Coast Superhero Weekend and the Broadbeach Christmas Carols with all events remaining free.
Broadbeach State School is a government primary school for boys and girls at Alexandra Avenue. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 895 students with 52 teachers and 34 non-teaching staff. It includes a special education program. The nearest secondary school is Merrimac State High School in neighbouring Mermaid Waters.
Buildings
The area is also home to The Star Gold Coast, the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre and the Oasis Shopping Centre. Broadbeach Alliance manage the precinct and present annual events and festivals such as Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival, Groundwater Country Music Festival, Gold Coast Superhero Weekend and the Broadbeach Christmas Carols. In the adjacent suburb of Broadbeach Waters is the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre. Well known apartment blocks include Sofitel Gold Coast, The Wave, The Oracle, Beach Haven, Niecon Plaza, Hi-Ho Apartments, Belle Maison, Bel Air and Air on Broadbeach. While residential housing lots were selling successfully in the state government developed Broadbeach township from 1934, and the area had good bitumen roads that were described as 'speedways' in newspaper reports, it wasn't until the construction of Lennon's Broadbeach Hotel in 1955 - 1956 that development of the area as a holiday destination began to increase.
Retail
The suburb of Broadbeach has two shopping centres in close proximity and numerous shops and restaurants. Pacific Fair, the second largest shopping centre on the Gold Coast is located on Hooker Boulevard in Broadbeach Waters, not far from the intersection on the Gold Coast Highway. Pacific Fair has over 300 specialty stores and four anchor stores. In January 2014 work began on re-developing and re-branding the shopping centre. $670 million is being spent on expanding the centre to cater for a 120 new specialty stores, making the centre the largest in Queensland and fourth largest in the nation. Oasis shopping centre is the second shopping centre in the suburb has over 100 specialty stores and a Woolworths supermarket. Oasis shopping centre has a number of restaurants located on the pedestrian section of Victoria Avenue. The centre is located across the road from the beach and is one block from the Gold Coast Highway.
Transport
Broadbeach has two main arterial roads connecting the suburb with other parts of the Gold Coast. Gold Coast Highway runs the full length of the coast and connects all coastal suburbs with Broadbeach. Hooker Boulevard, which turns into Nerang-Broadbeach Road after a roundabout in Carrara connects the suburb with Pacific Motorway which passes through Nerang as well as Nerang railway station. Broadbeach is serviced by Surfside Buslines services, operates two light rail stations in the suburb which connects Broadbeach with the hubs of Surfers Paradise and Southport. These are Broadbeach South and Broadbeach. Broadbeach South bus station is the main bus station in Broadbeach, which have regular and high-frequency buses that travel to Gold Coast Airport, Nerang railway station, Tweed Heads and Robina. The Gold Coast Oceanway provides pedestrians and cyclists access along the beaches of Broadbeach.
Demographics
In the, Broadbeach recorded a population of 5,514 people, The median age of the Broadbeach population was 41 years, higher than the national median of 38. 51.0% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 7.0% and England 4.7%. 66.8% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 31.0% and Catholic 20.3%.
