Biggera Waters, Queensland

Biggera Waters
Gold Coast, Queensland

Moreton Bay foreshore, Biggera Waters, 2005
Population 6,338 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 4216
LGA(s) City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s) Broadwater
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 2011 Census, Biggera Waters had a population of 6,338 people.[1]

Geography

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

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

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

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

In the 2011 census, Biggera Waters recorded a population of 6,338 people, 52.2% female and 47.8% male.

The median age of the Biggera Waters population was 40 years, 3 years above the national median of 37.

61.6% of people living in Biggera Waters were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were New Zealand 10.4%, England 6.1%, South Africa 1.1%, China 1.1%, Japan 0.8%.

80.5% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 1% Japanese, 0.9% Mandarin, 0.8% Italian, 0.8% Spanish, 0.7% German.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Biggera Waters (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2013-10-10.
  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. 1 2 "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

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

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