# Bilinga, Queensland

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**Bilinga** (/bəlɪngə/) is a southern coastal [suburb](/source/Suburbs_and_localities_(Australia)) in the [City of Gold Coast](/source/City_of_Gold_Coast), [Queensland](/source/Queensland), Australia.[1] It is on the border with [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales). In the , Bilinga had a population of 1,883 people.[2]

## Geography

Bilinga is bounded by Boyd Street to the north-west, the [Coral Sea](/source/Coral_Sea) to the east, and the border with [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales) to the west.[3]

The entire eastern coastline of the suburb is a continuous sandy surf beach, with the northern end known as Bilinga Beach ([28.1547°S 153.5067°E](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?params=-28.1547_153.5067&title=Bilinga%20Beach)) and the southern end known as North Kirra Beach ([28.1633°S 153.5183°E](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?params=-28.1633_153.5183&title=North%20Kirra%20Beach)).[3][4][5] Immediately inland from the beach is a narrow strip of housing (the only residential part of the suburb).[3]

[Gold Coast Airport](/source/Gold_Coast_Airport) (formerly the Coolangatta Airport, [28.165°S 153.5061°E](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?params=-28.1650_153.5061&title=Gold%20Coast%20Airport)) occupies the majority of the suburb, extending across the border into [Tweed Heads West](/source/Tweed_Heads_West) in New South Wales.[3][6]

The [Gold Coast Desalination Plant](/source/Gold_Coast_Desalination_Plant) is in the north-west of the suburb ([28.158°S 153.498°E](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?params=-28.158_153.498&title=Gold%20Coast%20Desalination%20Plant)).[3][7]

The Gold Coast campus ([28.1684°S 153.5185°E](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?params=-28.1684_153.5185&title=Gold%20Coast%20campus%2C%20Southern%20Cross%20University)) of the [Southern Cross University](/source/Southern_Cross_University) (headquartered in [Lismore](/source/Lismore,_New_South_Wales), [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales)) is in the south of the suburb.[3][8]

The [Gold Coast Highway](/source/Gold_Coast_Highway) enters the suburb from the north ([Tugun](/source/Tugun,_Queensland)) and mostly separating the residential ara from the airport and other infrastructure before exiting to the south (Tweed Heads West / [Tweed Heads](/source/Tweed_Heads,_New_South_Wales)) towards the [Pacific Motorway](/source/Pacific_Motorway_(Brisbane%E2%80%93Brunswick_Heads)).[3]

## 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](/source/Coolangatta,_Queensland).[9]

In February 1908, 5 land portions were advertised to be [open for selection](/source/Land_selection_in_Queensland) 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 [South Coast railway line](/source/South_Coast_railway_line,_Queensland) in the north and the tick fence to the south.[10]

After the land sales, a rail siding was created in 1919. It was located roughly at the intersection of the Gold Coast Highway and George Street ([28.1601°S 153.511°E](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?params=-28.1601_153.5110&title=Bilinga%20railway%20station)).[11][12]

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.[9]

The drowning of a man on Bilinga Beach in 1937 led to the establishment of the Bilinga Surf Lifesaving Club in 1938.[13]

In 1989, Bilinga received 50,000 cubic metres of sand as part of a beach nourishment program.[14]

During 2020 and 2021, the Queensland borders were closed to most people due to the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Queensland). Border crossing points were either closed or had a [Queensland Police](/source/Queensland_Police_Service) checkpoint to allow entry to only those people with an appropriate permit. The [Gold Coast Highway](/source/Gold_Coast_Highway) at Bilinga was one of the police border checkpoints.[15]

## Demographics

In the , Bilinga had a population of 1,662 people.[16]

In the , Bilinga had a population of 1,804 people. 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%.[17]

In the , Bilinga had a population of 1,883 people.[2]

## Education

There are no schools in Bilinga. The nearest government primary school is [Coolangatta State School](/source/Coolangatta_State_School) in neighbouring [Coolangatta](/source/Coolangatta) to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is [Palm Beach Currumbin State High School](/source/Palm_Beach_Currumbin_State_High_School) in [Palm Beach](/source/Palm_Beach,_Queensland) to the north-west.[3]

The Gold Coast campus of [Southern Cross University](/source/Southern_Cross_University) offers a range of courses in arts, health, social science, business, education, information technology, law and tourism.[8] The university is a partner with the Gold Coast airport and other tourism-oriented businesses to offer specialised degrees and research in aviation and tourism.[18]

## Community groups

Bilinga Surf Life Saving Club members patrol the beach on weekends and public holidays from September to May each year. Their clubhouse is at 257 Golden Four Drive ([28.1552°S 153.5063°E](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?params=-28.1552_153.5063&title=Bilinga%20Surf%20Life%20Saving%20Club)) facing the beach.[19]

North Kirra Surf Life Saving Club has their clubhouse at 41 Pacific Parade on the foreshore ([28.165°S 153.5209°E](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?params=-28.1650_153.5209&title=North%20Kirra%20Surf%20Life%20Saving%20Club)).[20]

## Notable people

- [Gregory Shambrook](/source/Gregory_Shambrook) (born 1953), a rugby union player, represented Australia

## See also

- [Suburbs of the Gold Coast](/source/Suburbs_of_the_Gold_Coast)

## References

1. Retrieved 18 September 2020.

1. Retrieved 7 October 2020.

1. Retrieved 7 October 2020.

1. ["Aviation Facilities"](https://www.goldcoastairport.com.au/corporate/aviation-facilities). *[Gold Coast Airport](/source/Gold_Coast_Airport)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201007050328/https://www.goldcoastairport.com.au/corporate/aviation-facilities) 7 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-10-07.

1. ["About the Gold Coast Desalination Plant"](https://www.seqwater.com.au/sites/default/files/2019-08/2017%20Fact%20sheet%20Gold%20Coast%20Desalination%20Plant.pdf). *[Seqwater](/source/Seqwater)*. August 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201007050328/https://www.seqwater.com.au/sites/default/files/2019-08/2017%20Fact%20sheet%20Gold%20Coast%20Desalination%20Plant.pdf) 7 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 October 2020.

1. ["Our Gold Coast campus"](https://www.scu.edu.au/study-at-scu/why-scu/locations/gold-coast/). *[Southern Cross University](/source/Southern_Cross_University)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201007050331/https://www.scu.edu.au/study-at-scu/why-scu/locations/gold-coast/) 7 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-10-07.

1. ["Bilinga History"](http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/thegoldcoast/bilinga-history-2617.html). [City of Gold Coast Council](/source/City_of_Gold_Coast_Council). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140419190515/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/thegoldcoast/bilinga-history-2617.html) 19 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 April 2014.

1. State Library of Queensland. 1907.

1. ["Untitled"](https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-qld-2m37-surv-control-1947.jpg) (Map). [Queensland Government](/source/Queensland_Government). 1947. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200405164424/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-qld-2m37-surv-control-1947.jpg) 5 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 April 2020.

1. ["Moreton 40 Chain map AG2 series sheet 16 south"](https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-40chn-moreton-ag2-sh16-south-1929.jpg). [Queensland Government](/source/Queensland_Government). 1929. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200924025559/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-40chn-moreton-ag2-sh16-south-1929.jpg) 24 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 September 2020.

1. Mangin, J. F. ["Volume 1"](http://www.bilingaslsc.com/history/jmangin/index.html). *History of Bilinga*. Bilinga Surf Lifesaving Club. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090216/http://www.bilingaslsc.com/history/jmangin/index.html) 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 April 2014.

1. Graham, Bruce (2004). [*The Green Coast: The Natural Environment of the Tweed-Moreton Bioregion*](https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3101318). Tweed Heads, New South Wales. p. 113. ISBN 0-9751817-0-X. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211115060342/https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3101318) 15 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 November 2021.

1. ["Crossing Qld-NSW border? Here's everything you need to know"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-25/hard-border-nsw-qld-explainer/100276666). Australia: ABC News. 2021-07-25. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220124041053/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-25/hard-border-nsw-qld-explainer/100276666) 24 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-01-24.

1. ["2020 - New courses take flight at Southern Cross University"](https://www.scu.edu.au/engage/news/latest-news/2020/new-courses-take-flight-at-southern-cross-university-.php). *[Southern Cross University](/source/Southern_Cross_University)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201007051214/https://www.scu.edu.au/engage/news/latest-news/2020/new-courses-take-flight-at-southern-cross-university-.php) 7 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-10-07.

1. ["Bilinga SLSC – small friendly family club"](https://bilingaslsc.com/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201007050329/https://bilingaslsc.com/) 7 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-10-07.

1. ["North Kirra Surf Life Saving Club"](https://northkirra.com.au/surflifesaving/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230728114046/https://northkirra.com.au/surflifesaving/) 28 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-10-07.

- 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

## External links

- ["Bilinga"](http://queenslandplaces.com.au/bilinga). *Queensland Places*. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
- [Bilinga Surf Life Saving Club](http://bilingaslsc.com)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bilinga, Queensland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilinga%2C_Queensland) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilinga%2C_Queensland?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.