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Burleigh Waters, Queensland facts for kids

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Burleigh Waters
Gold CoastQueensland
Caningeraba State School, 2020.jpg
Caningeraba State School, 2020
Burleigh Waters is located in Gold Coast, Australia
Burleigh Waters
Burleigh Waters
Location in Gold Coast, Australia
Population 14,556 (2021 census)
 • Density 2,173/km2 (5,630/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 4220
Elevation 4 m (13 ft)
Area 6.7 km2 (2.6 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s) City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s)
  • Burleigh
  • Mermaid Beach
Federal Division(s) McPherson
Suburbs around Burleigh Waters:
Robina Mermaid Waters Miami
Varsity Lakes Burleigh Waters Burleigh Heads
Burleigh Heads Burleigh Heads Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Waters is a cool suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. It's known for its many lakes and canals. In 2021, about 14,556 people called Burleigh Waters home. It's a great place to live with lots of outdoor activities and schools.

Exploring Burleigh Waters

Burleigh Waters is part of the Gold Coast. It's close to other suburbs like Burleigh Heads and Miami. You'll find Marymount College and two big shopping centres here.

Lakes and Waterways

One of the coolest things about Burleigh Waters is its amazing canal system. These canals connect to The Broadwater and the Pacific Ocean. This means many homes have waterfront access!

There are five main lakes in Burleigh Waters:

  • Lake Heron (28°04′47″S 153°25′34″E / 28.0798°S 153.4261°E / -28.0798; 153.4261 (Lake Heron))
  • Miami Lake (28°04′37″S 153°26′12″E / 28.0769°S 153.4366°E / -28.0769; 153.4366 (Miami Lake))
  • Swan Lake (28°05′20″S 153°25′52″E / 28.0888°S 153.4312°E / -28.0888; 153.4312 (Swan Lake))
  • Pelican Lake (28°04′48″S 153°26′17″E / 28.0800°S 153.4380°E / -28.0800; 153.4380 (Pelican Lake))
  • Burleigh Lake (28°05′16″S 153°26′27″E / 28.0877°S 153.4408°E / -28.0877; 153.4408 (Burleigh Lake))

The canals have tides, just like the ocean. Sometimes, during very heavy rains, homes along the canals can experience flooding. There's also a special wetland area called Stephens Swamp (28°05′20″S 153°25′43″E / 28.0888°S 153.4286°E / -28.0888; 153.4286 (Stephens Swamp)).

You can even walk or cycle across Burleigh Lake! There's a bridge connecting Dunlin Drive Link Park to Burleigh Lake Park (28°05′30″S 153°26′14″E / 28.0918°S 153.4372°E / -28.0918; 153.4372 (foot bridge)).

A Journey Through Time

Burleigh Waters wasn't always full of lakes and canals. A big swamp called Stephens Swamp covered much of the area. In 1861, a local landholder named Thomas Blacket Stephens started draining the swamp.

How Burleigh Waters Grew

In the 1950s, places like the Isle of Capri started building canal estates for people who wanted to live by the water. This idea became very popular. Burleigh Waters began to develop in the 1970s. Developers created new sections with canals and homes.

As the land was drained and reclaimed, the swamp was replaced by the man-made lakes we see today. That's how Burleigh Waters got its name! The suburb was officially named on June 1, 1981. The name Burleigh comes from Burly Head, named by surveyor James Warner in 1840.

Schools and Community

Schools have been an important part of the community for a long time.

  • Marymount Primary School opened in Burleigh Waters in 1973. It replaced an older school.
  • Marymount College opened in 1967.
  • Caningeraba State School opened on January 27, 1987, with 130 students. It helped ease the pressure on other local schools.
  • The Burleigh Waters Library opened in 1991, giving everyone a place to read and learn.

Water Safety

For many years, there were stories about sharks in the Gold Coast canals. While many thought it was just a myth, it's always important to be careful around water. In 2003, a serious incident occurred in the canals. This reminded everyone to be safe and swim at the beach, where lifeguards are present.

Who Lives Here?

Burleigh Waters is a diverse place!

  • In 2011, there were 13,868 people living here.
  • Most people (71.8%) were born in Australia.
  • Other people came from countries like New Zealand (7.4%), England (5.5%), and Scotland (0.9%).
  • English is the main language spoken at home (88.6%). Some other languages include Japanese, Spanish, and German.
  • By 2021, the population had grown to 14,556 people.

Learning in Burleigh Waters

Burleigh Waters has great schools for young people.

Primary Schools

  • Caningeraba State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located on Whistler Drive (28°05′07″S 153°25′49″E / 28.0853°S 153.4302°E / -28.0853; 153.4302 (Caningeraba State School)). In 2018, it had over 1,100 students!
  • Marymount Primary School is a Catholic primary school, also for Prep to Year 6. You can find it on Reedy Creek Road (28°06′04″S 153°25′46″E / 28.1010°S 153.4294°E / -28.1010; 153.4294 (Marymount Primary School)). In 2018, it had nearly 1,000 students.

Secondary Schools

  • Marymount College is a Catholic secondary school for students in Years 7 to 12. It's on Reedy Creek Road too (28°06′05″S 153°25′49″E / 28.1015°S 153.4304°E / -28.1015; 153.4304 (Marymount College)). In 2018, over 1,200 students attended the college.
  • While there isn't a government secondary school right in Burleigh Waters, students can go to nearby schools like Miami State High School in Miami or Varsity College in Varsity Lakes.

Local Spots and Services

Burleigh Waters has many useful places for its residents.

  • Burleigh Waters Library: The Gold Coast City Council runs a public library on Christine Avenue (28°04′53″S 153°25′56″E / 28.0814°S 153.4321°E / -28.0814; 153.4321 (Burleigh Waters public library)). It's a great place to borrow books, study, or use computers.
  • Post Offices: You can find the Burleigh Town Post Office inside the Stockland Burleigh Heads shopping centre (28°05′52″S 153°26′28″E / 28.0977°S 153.4410°E / -28.0977; 153.4410 (Burleigh Town Post Office)). There's also another post shop at 6 Classic Way (28°05′58″S 153°25′26″E / 28.0995°S 153.4240°E / -28.0995; 153.4240 (Burleigh Post Shop)).
  • Mary Mother of Mercy Catholic Church: This church is located on Sunlight Drive (28°06′03″S 153°25′58″E / 28.1009°S 153.4328°E / -28.1009; 153.4328 (Mary Mother of Mercy Catholic Church)).
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