Our Story

From humble beginnings, parishioners worshipped in an Albert Shire Hall, at Bel Air Park Mermaid Waters, on Lake Hugh Muntz.

The Parochial District of Mermaid Beach was formed by separating Mermaid Beach from Burleigh Heads Parish. St James Church in Mermaid Waters was the new parish centre.

A worship centre was built at Robina Village, which has now become a hardware store.

Negotiations began with Robina Land Corporation to secure a site at the proposed Robina Town centre. The following year the parishioners voted to dispose of the parish assets (St James and Robina Village churches) and borrowed $1.5 million to build a new worship centre at Robina. The Diocese of Brisbane contributed a further $400,000. Plans for Trinity Anglican Mission, Robina, were approved, and construction began by the end of 1996.

The move to Robina from Mermaid Beach was the vision of Father David Swinfield who saw the need for a brand new church in the marketplace. The church received enthusiastic support from Robina Land Corp. for the move. Father Monty Morris and a team of lay people including Richard Wilson, Ken Haffenden, John Day, John Westera and Alan Mee worked very hard from 1994-1997 contributing enormous time and effort to facilitate the building project. The original concept was for a multifunctional building incorporating a child care centre. The success of the building is a tribute to architect Phil Horwood.

A temporary parish worship centre was established at Research Park, Bond University.

Rainbow Town Child Care Centre was opened on the present site, and the first service was conducted at Trinity Anglican Mission.

Trinity Anglican Mission became much more than a parish. Since 1997, additions to the site have included:

• Trinity Family Support Network (part of Queensland Government’s Hub strategy to support families with special needs),
• The Lakeview building – initially built for families with members who have disabilities and,
• Emma Jane Packer House – built to house St Luke’s Nursing Service Aged Care Respite Centre (now Anglicare).

A treasured partnership has also developed with All Saints Anglican School, in Merrimac, within the parish boundary. It has served as the chapel for the School’s major services, and the ministry team have shared in the teaching and pastoral care of the students and families.