Benowa, Queensland

Benowa is an affluent Gold Coast suburb west of Surfers Paradise. At the 2006 Census, Benowa had a population of 7,269.The name was originally derived from the aboriginal "Boonow", meaning red bloodwood. This word was later corrupted by European settlers in search of sugar cane growing on the shores of the Nerang River. The name was perpetualised in 1870 when a pioneer named Robert Muir used the name for his sugar plantation on the northern bank of the river.There are 3 distinct areas to Benowa. Established Benowa located on the Northern side of Ashmore Road, Benowa Hills and Benowa Waters. Benowa is attracting a fair amount of attention from renovators with some of the original homes being built around the 1980s, due to its great proximity to Surfers Paradise, and Broadbeach and with so many great facilities within the area.DemographicsIn the 2011 Census the population of Benowa is 7,979, 52.1% female and 47.9% male.The median/average age of the Benowa population is 42 years of age, 5 years above the Australian average.62.7% of people living in Benowa were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were New Zealand 7%, England 5.9%, Japan 2%, South Africa 1.6%, Scotland 0.9%.79% of people speak English as their first language 2.7% Japanese, 1.7% Mandarin, 1.4% Cantonese, 1% Croatian, 1% Korean.EducationBenowa State Primary School was opened as a small rural school in 1885. The school continued as rural school until in the 1980s. Current enrolment is 890. School sports include Australian Rules football, touch football, netball, hockey and soccer. The school celebrates its 125th birthday in 2010.