Bilinga, Queensland

Bilinga is a southern coastal suburb of City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.[2] It is on the border with New South Wales to the west and has the Pacific Ocean to the east.[3]

Bilinga
Gold Coast, Queensland
Aerial view of Bilinga beachfront, 2013
Population1,804 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)4225
LGA(s)City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s)Currumbin
Federal Division(s)Moncrieff
Suburbs around Bilinga:
Tugun Coral Sea Coral Sea
Cobaki Lakes (NSW) Bilinga Coolangatta
Tweed Heads West (NSW) Tweed Heads West (NSW) Tweed Heads (NSW)

History

The word "Bilinga" is derived from the word "Bilinba", meaning bats. The name was adopted in 1918 as a place name for Crown lands north of Coolangatta.[4]

In February 1908, 5 land portions were advertised to be open for selection as agricultural farms and unconditional selections by the Department of Public Lands office. The map advertising the selection, surveyed by J.H.Jensen, shows the portions 84 to 88 situated between the Brisbane to Tweed Heads railway in the north and the tick fence to the south.[5]

Bilinga was located on the Nerang Tweed Railway line. After the land sales, a rail siding was created in 1919. After 1919, the catalyst for an increase in development was said to be the erection of a general store, owned by businessman Percy Hanzel, near the rail siding. Furthermore, increased development could be attributed to a new coastal road, which improved access to the area for holiday makers and residents.[4]

The drowning of a man on Bilinga Beach in 1937 led to the establishment of the Bilinga Surf Lifesaving Club in 1938.[6]

At the 2011 Census, Bilinga had a population of 1,662.[7]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Bilinga recorded a population of 1,804 people.[7] The median age of the Bilinga population was 47 years, 9 years above the national median of 38. 66.8% of people were born in Australia and 78.2% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 27.5% and Catholic 21.5%.[7]

Bilinga Surf Life Saving Club

Established in 1938, Bilinga SLSC members patrol the beach on weekends and public holidays from September to May each year.

Gold Coast Airport

The Gold Coast Airport is located at 1 Eastern Avenue Bilinga. Despite being situated in Bilinga and across the border into Tweed Heads West, New South Wales, the airport is also known as Coolangatta Airport, presumably because Coolangatta is better known than Bilinga.

Notable people

Notable people from or who have lived in Bilinga include:

See also
  • Suburbs of the Gold Coast

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bilinga (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  2. "Bilinga (entry 46029)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  4. "Bilinga History". City of Gold Coast Council. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  5. "Plan of portions 84 to 88, parish of Tallebudgera, county of Ward, Brisbane land agents district, Shire of Nerang". hdl:10462/deriv/264325. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. Mangin, J. F. "Volume 1". History of Bilinga. Bilinga Surf Lifesaving Club. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  7. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Bilinga (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  • Gresty, J.A., The Numinbah Valley: Its Geography, History and Aboriginal Associations
  • Watson, F.E Vocabularies of Four Representative Tribes of South East Queensland
  • Kerr, John. Destination South Brisbane, p. 45

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