Bilinga

Bilinga is a southern coastal suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Bilinga is a southern coastal suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Bilinga had a population of 1,804 people. It is on the border with New South Wales.

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.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 South Coast railway line in the north and the tick fence to the south.After the land sales, a rail siding was created in 1919. It was located roughly an the intersection of the Gold Coast Highway and George Street (28.1601°S 153.5110°E? / -28.1601; 153.5110? (Bilinga railway station)).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.The drowning of a man on Bilinga Beach in 1937 led to the establishment of the Bilinga Surf Lifesaving Club in 1938.At the 2011 census, Bilinga had a population of 1,662.In the 2016 census, Bilinga had a population of 1,804 people.