Biggera Waters, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Biggera Waters Gold Coast, Queensland
The Broadwater foreshore at Biggera Waters
Biggera Waters Location in Queensland
Population	8,534 (2016 census)
• Density	2,306/km2 (5,970/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4216
Area	3.7 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	5.3 km (3 mi) N of Southport 9.0 km (6 mi) N of Surfers Paradise 70.0 km (43 mi) SE of Brisbane
LGA(s)	City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s)	Broadwater Bonney
Federal Division(s)	Moncrieff
Suburbs around Biggera Waters: Coombabah Runaway Bay The Broadwater Coombabah Biggera Waters The Broadwater Arundel Labrador The Broadwater

Biggera Waters is a coastal suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Biggera Waters had a population of 8,534 people.

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 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%.

Education

Biggera Waters State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls on the corner of Morala Avenue and Coombabah Road (27°55′38″S 153°23′50″E / 27.9272°S 153.3973°E / -27.9272; 153.3973 (Biggera Waters State School)). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 880 students with 65 teachers (57 full-time equivalent) and 34 non-teaching staff (21 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

There is no secondary school in Biggera Waters. The nearest secondary schools are Coombabah State High School in neighbouring Coombabah to the west and Southport State High School in Southport to the south.

Images for kids

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  Food court, Harbour Town shopping centre