Bilinga, Queensland

Bilinga (/b//ə//l//ɪ//n//g//ə/) is a southern coastal suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is on the border with New South Wales. In the , Bilinga had a population of 1,883 people. The entire eastern coastline of the suburb is a continuous sandy surf beach, with the northern end known as Bilinga Beach and the southern end known as North Kirra Beach Immediately inland from the beach is a narrow strip of housing (the only residential part of the suburb). The Gold Coast Desalination Plant is in the north west of the suburb
The Gold Coast campus of the Southern Cross University (headquartered in Lismore, New South Wales) is in the south of the suburb. The Gold Coast Highway enters the suburb from the north (Tugun) and mostly separating the residential ara from the airport and other infrastructure before exiting to the south (Tweed Heads West / Tweed Heads) towards the Pacific Motorway. 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 at the intersection of the Gold Coast Highway and George Street
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. In 1989, Bilinga received 50,000 cubic metres of sand as part of a beach nourishment program. During 2020 and 2021, the Queensland borders were closed to most people due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Border crossing points were either closed or had a Queensland Police checkpoint to allow entry to only those people with an appropriate permit. The Gold Coast Highway at Bilinga was one of the police border checkpoints.

At the , Bilinga had a population of 1,662. 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%. In the , Bilinga had a population of 1,883 people.

There are no schools in Bilinga. The nearest primary school is Coolangatta State School in neighbouring Coolangatta to the south east. The nearest secondary school is Palm Beach Currumbin State High School in Palm Beach to the north west.

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 facing the beach. North Kirra Surf Life Saving Club has their clubhouse at 41 Pacific Parade on the foreshore .