What is Billabong?
Billabong is an Australian surfwear brand founded on the Gold Coast in Queensland in 1973 by Gordon Merchant and Rena Merchant. It became one of the world's best-known surf brands, selling boardshorts, wetsuits and clothing.
Gordon Merchant began making boardshorts at home in Burleigh Heads, using a technique called triple stitching that made them stronger. He sold the shorts to local surf shops.
The brand name comes from the Australian word billabong, which means a pond or backwater left behind when a river changes course. It reflects the brand's Australian roots.
Global expansion
Billabong grew rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s, sponsoring professional surfers and events. It expanded to Europe, the Americas and Asia and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2000.
The company faced financial difficulties in the 2010s, as surf brands lost popularity and retail declined. In 2018, Billabong was bought by Boardriders, owner of Quiksilver.
Boardriders was later acquired by Authentic Brands Group in 2023. Billabong remains a popular brand, known for surfwear and swimwear, and has long been associated with the Pipeline Masters surfing event in Hawaii.
Did You Know?
Billabong also owns the brand Element, focused on skateboarding.