Biggera Waters, Queensland

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Biggera Waters
Gold Coast, Queensland
Surfers Paradise Long Shot.jpg
Moreton Bay foreshore, Biggera Waters, 2005
Population8,534 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)4216
LGA(s)City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s)
Federal Division(s)Moncrieff
Suburbs around Biggera Waters:
Coombabah Runaway Bay South Stradbroke
Coombabah Biggera Waters Main Beach
Arundel Labrador Main Beach

Biggera Waters is a suburb in City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.[2] It is located on the western side of The Broadwater and is north of the suburb of Labrador. At the 2016 census, Biggera Waters had a population of 8,534 people.[1]

Geography[edit]

Its namesake, Biggera Creek, flows through the suburb itself and past a point known locally as "Land's End" at the mouth of the creek where it enters the Broadwater.

Etymology[edit]

An article in the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia by F.J. Watson offers this translation:

"Bigera from the red iron bark tree (Eucalyptus siderophloia) from the Yugambeh language."[3]

History[edit]

Subdivided in the late 19th century, the area was originally settled by several fishing and agricultural families including [4] John Siganto, a local landowner, who built a residence named "Finis" (Latin, "The End") at Land's End. [5]

A school reserve was created on Biggera Creek in 1889 on the corner of Hollywell Avenue and Coomabah Road[6] but it wasn't until 27 January 1970 that the Biggera Waters State School opened.[7]

In 1937 construction started on 36 acres of scrub land to the north of Biggera Creek to build an aerodrome. [8] It was considered suitable for both land and the sea planes which used the Broadwater but development of the site was halted due to World War Two. [9] After the end of the war the aerodrome was revisited but the site was no longer considered suitable and other options were discussed. [10] [11]

Biggera Waters and surrounding regions experienced a period of growth in the 1950s [12] and in 1953 approximately 18 acres of the aerodrome property, situated in the vicinity of Ocean, Broadwater and Stradbroke Streets, was sold for development. [13]

By 1954, the area developed by Mr. Oates north of Biggera Creek was known as Angler's Paradise. [14]

While there had been a crossing or bridge over the Biggera Creek for many years in the vicinity of Hollywell Road besides the school reserve, it wasn't until 1960, that a bridge was built across the mouth of the Biggera Creek at Land's End, opening up the northern side of the creek to greater residential development.[4]

Amenities[edit]

The Harbour Town factory outlet mall on the Gold Coast is located on Brisbane Road at Biggera Waters on the site of the former Southport drive-in theatre.[15][16]

Demographics[edit]

In the 2016 Census, there were 8,534 people in Biggera Waters. Of these 47.5% were male and 52.5% were female.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 1.3% of the population.
  • The median age of the Biggera Waters population was 39 years, 1 years above the national median of 38.
  • 56.5% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 8.5%, England 4.9% and China 3.6%.
  • 73.0% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin at 3.9%.
  • The most common responses for religion in Biggera Waters were No Religion 32.1%, Catholic 19.8% and Anglican 14.5%.[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Biggera Waters (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 6 February 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Biggera Waters (entry 46028)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  3. ^ F.J. Watson. "Vocabularies of four representative tribes of South Eastern Queensland." Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, p 54
  4. ^ a b "Biggera Waters History". City of Gold Coast Council. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  5. ^ "A PIONEER PASSES". South Coast Bulletin. 5, (251). Queensland, Australia. 6 October 1933. p. 2. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Official Notifications". The Queenslander. XXXV, (709). Queensland, Australia. 4 May 1889. p. 852. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  8. ^ "SOUTHPORT'S AERODROME". South Coast Bulletin. 9, (499). Queensland, Australia. 3 December 1937. p. 3. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "SOUTHPORT'S AERODROME". South Coast Bulletin (485). Queensland, Australia. 30 April 1947. p. 12. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "SOUTHPORT'S AERODROME". South Coast Bulletin (485). Queensland, Australia. 30 April 1947. p. 12. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING". South Coast Bulletin (475). Queensland, Australia. 19 February 1947. p. 14. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "£1M Expansion Along South Coast". Warwick Daily News (10, 502). Queensland, Australia. 8 April 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "S.C. COUNCIL LAND SALE". South Coast Bulletin. , (1571). Queensland, Australia. 1 April 1953. p. 29. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "NEW RESIDENTS WELCOMED". South Coast Bulletin. , (1649). Queensland, Australia. 29 September 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Contact us". Harbour Town. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  16. ^ "Biggera Waters". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 27°55′51″S 153°23′46″E / 27.9308°S 153.3961°E / -27.9308; 153.3961

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