Biggera Waters, Queensland
Biggera Waters Gold Coast, Queensland | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Moreton Bay foreshore, Biggera Waters, 2005 | |||||||||||||||
Population | 8,534 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4216 | ||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | City of Gold Coast | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | |||||||||||||||
Federal Division(s) | Moncrieff | ||||||||||||||
|
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]
Contents
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]
- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Biggera Waters (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ "Biggera Waters (entry 46028)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ F.J. Watson. "Vocabularies of four representative tribes of South Eastern Queensland." Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, p 54
- ^ a b "Biggera Waters History". City of Gold Coast Council. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ "A PIONEER PASSES". South Coast Bulletin. 5, (251). Queensland, Australia. 6 October 1933. p. 2. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Official Notifications". The Queenslander. XXXV, (709). Queensland, Australia. 4 May 1889. p. 852. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ "SOUTHPORT'S AERODROME". South Coast Bulletin. 9, (499). Queensland, Australia. 3 December 1937. p. 3. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "SOUTHPORT'S AERODROME". South Coast Bulletin (485). Queensland, Australia. 30 April 1947. p. 12. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "SOUTHPORT'S AERODROME". South Coast Bulletin (485). Queensland, Australia. 30 April 1947. p. 12. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING". South Coast Bulletin (475). Queensland, Australia. 19 February 1947. p. 14. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "£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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "NEW RESIDENTS WELCOMED". South Coast Bulletin. , (1649). Queensland, Australia. 29 September 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 16 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Contact us". Harbour Town. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ "Biggera Waters". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
External links[edit]
- University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Biggera Waters
- Heritage Tour - Biggera Waters
- Very GC - Biggera Waters
Coordinates: 27°55′51″S 153°23′46″E / 27.9308°S 153.3961°E