Population 6,338 (2011 census) Postal code 4216 | Postcode(s) 4216 | |
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Biggera Waters is a suburb in City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. 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.
Contents
Map of Biggera Waters QLD 4216, Australia
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."
History
Subdivided in the late 19th century, the area was originally settled by several fishing and agricultural families including John Siganto, a local landowner, who built a residence named "Finis" (Latin, "The End") at Land's End.
A school reserve was created on Biggera Creek in 1889 on the corner of Hollywell Avenue and Coomabah Road but it wasn't until 27 January 1970 that the Biggera Waters State School opened.
In 1937 construction started on 36 acres of scrub land to the north of Biggera Creek to build an aerodrome. 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. After the end of the war the aerodrome was revisited but the site was no longer considered suitable and other options were discussed.
Biggera Waters and surrounding regions experienced a period of growth in the 1950s and in 1953 approximately 18 acres of the aerodrome property, situated in the vicinity of Ocean, Broadwater and Stradbroke Streets, was sold for development.
By 1954, the area developed by Mr. Oates north of Biggera Creek was known as Angler's Paradise.
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.
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.
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.