Tugun is situated at the junction of the Pacific and Gold Coast highways north-west of Coolangatta and south of Brisbane, the state capital. The junction was notoriously traffic-clogged but has improved markedly upon completion of the Tugun Bypass in June 2008. Tugun is a popular holiday destination, with a number of holiday units and motels lining Tugun Beach. Tugun has a number of shops located on its Golden-Four Drive strip. The Gold Coast Oceanway, a pedestrian and cyclist pathway, connects Tugun with neighbouring Currumbin and Bilinga
History
Its name is believed to have derived from an Indigenous word of unknown dialect meaning "breaking waves". Locals fondly call Tugun, Tugz. 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. 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 Septebmer 1999 was approved by Assistant BishopRon Williams. In the, Tugun recorded a population of 5,976 people. At the, Tugun had a population of 6,588.
Landmarks
Offshore from Tugun is the Gold Coast Desalination Plant. Other landmarks in the suburb include the Tugun Tavern, Tugun Surf Life Saving Club, Tugun Bowls Club and Flat Rock. The owner of the Jolly Swagman motel suggested the name "Golden Four Drive" for the section of the former Brisbane to Sydney Highway located closest to the beaches. 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, Bilinga, North Kirra and Kirra beaches.
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.
Demographics
In the, 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.
