Hope Island is positioned on the northern Gold Coast. It is a short distance from the Pacific Motorway.
History
The area was named after colonial aristocrat Captain Louis Hope, who was granted approximately of land at the mouth of the Coomera River in recognition of his contribution in developing the sugar industry in Queensland. After arriving in Moreton Bay in 1848, Hope spent the next 20 years building sugar plantations on the edge of Moreton Bay. The development of a sugar plantation called ‘Rockholm’ on the Island was largely undertaken by the Grimes Family. By the twentieth century, the sugar and arrowroot plantation had passed into the hands of the Sheehan and Davidson families. Hope himself never actually lived in the suburb of Hope Island, preferring to live in Ormiston on the edge of Moreton Bay.
Amenities
Hope Island has a marina, shops, restaurants, theme parks, schools and three golf courses within close proximity. Hope Island is home to the upmarket Hope Island Resort and Sanctuary Cove. Community facilities include a harbour front dining/shopping precinct, deep water mooring facilities and luxury housing. Hope Island is currently undergoing major strategic planning by developers, together with the Gold Coast City Council, who advocate mixed use.
Transport
Hope Island is serviced by many transport options for both local and inter-city commuting. It is located adjacent to the M1 motorway connecting it with the rest of the Gold Coast and Brisbane, as well as 20 minutes from the Coomera railway station with regular direct services to Brisbane city and airport. Golf buggies are a popular form of transport within Hope Island Resort and the neighbouring Sanctuary Cove Resort. A buggy path linking the two resorts has recently been completed by Gold Coast City Council, allowing Sanctuary Cove and Hope Island Resort residents to access each other's resorts. Hope Island is also serviced by bus services 711 & 718 which are operated by Surfside Buslines, The 711 bus service route is from Sanctuary Cove to Southport running hourly, the 718 bus route from Santa Barbara to Helensvale Station runs on an less frequent basis.
Sport and recreation
Recreation areas include Robert Dalley Park, Pat Cash Tennis Academy and courts, and numerous golf courses. Marina services are also available.
Commercial areas
Hope Island Marina Shopping Village is a tropical style, waterfront, open-air shopping and dining centre located on the Hope Island Resort Marina. Its major tenant is Coles, along with a number of specialty stores as well as waterfront cafes and restaurants. There is a large medical centre, optometrist practice and pharmacy. There are smaller shopping areas at Hope Island Central and along Hope Island Road including veterinary clinics, child care facilities, shopping, and services. A recently completed buggy path allows Hope Island Resort residents easy access to the commercial area and dining precinct within Sanctuary Cove, as well as the Intercontinental Hotel and other facilities
Hope Island Resort
A large portion of Hope Island is home to the Hope Island Resort, an upscale gated community managed by Cambridge Management Services, with facilities such as marina, half-Olympic pool, golf course, tennis and 24-hour security. A wide variety of housing stock and land is also on offer, and Hope Island Resort continues to grow with subsequent land releases. All property within Hope Island Resort is generally FIRB approved; ready for foreign investment. Hope Island and its environs is considered to comprise Gold Coast's 'North Shore'. Links Hope Island is home to an 18-hole championship course designed by five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson. Hope Island Resort has its own private broadband network. A modern Hybrid Fibre Coax network which is used for cable television delivery, the gate intercom, community telephony, security and super-fast Internet delivery to all residents. Newer parts of the resort have a full fibre-to-the-premises connection.
