The word “billabong” sounds very silly – it sounds like some nonsense word that a child might make up. However, its a real word, and it has several meanings. The word “billabong” originally comes from Australian English. It is a word that refers to a small oxbow lake, a type of lake that is located next to a river. A billabong was originally part of the river but, due to the river changing course, was cut off. This leaves the branch without a connection to the moving water, turning it into a lake. Billabongs have appeared in a number of different pieces of Australian literature and other works. One of the most famous uses of the word is in the folk song “Waltzing Matilda.”
However, many people have heard the word Billabong as a brand name. Billabong is a public company which has above 4500 employees worldwide, Billabong also appears on the Australian Securities Exchange. They are primarily a clothing brand, although they have purchased a number of other companies that make other products. The company was been public since August of 2000, although it was founded back in 1973. The company was originally headed by Rena and Gordon Merchant, the founders, who started Billabong in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Today, Billabong is headquartered in Burleigh Heads, Queensland.