Banana
Queensland
Statue of the bullock "Banana", 2014
Banana is located in Queensland
Banana
Banana
Coordinates24°28′20″S 150°07′42″E / 24.4722°S 150.1283°E / -24.4722; 150.1283 (Banana (town centre))
Population356 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density0.3788/km2 (0.9810/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4702
Area939.9 km2 (362.9 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Banana
State electorate(s)Callide
Federal division(s)Flynn
Localities around Banana:
Kokotungo Woolein Orange Creek
Baralaba
Moura		 Banana Prospect
Tarramba
Kianga Lonesome Creek Castle Creek

Banana is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, the locality of Banana had a population of 356 people.[1]

Geography

Banana is located at the intersection of the Dawson and Leichhardt highways, 46 kilometres (29 mi) west of the shire's administrative centre, Biloela.

History

Gangalu (Gangulu, Kangulu, Kanolu, Kaangooloo, Khangulu) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Gangula country. The Gangula language region includes the towns of Clermont and Springsure extending south towards the Dawson River.[4]

In 1853, James, Norman and Charles Leith-Hay established the Rannes pastoral lease and Banana was an outstation of this property. Banana became its own squatting leasehold sheep station property in 1855 with the Leith-Hays and Thomas Holt holding the licence.[5] In 1855 a group of Aboriginal people attacked Banana Station wounding five people and stealing 3,000 sheep. In April 1858, a number of Aboriginal people in an unprovoked attack, murdered 4 men at Camboon and had stolen a carbine, gun powder and balls, and some axes. They then proceeded to attack the sheep station at Banana resulted in three shepherds being wounded. While the shepherds were defending themselves, an Aboriginal man was killed. Native Police troopers were deployed to patrol the area and a 1859 map shows a police station marked on the planned site for Banana.[6][7]

The name Banana derives from an old dun-coloured working bullock, called Banana, used by local stockmen to help them when herding some of the wilder cattle into the yards.[2][8][9]

The post office at Banana was established on 1 September 1861,[10][11] and the first township allotments were offered for sale in that same year.[12]

In 1887, there was a minor gold rush at Banana, increasing the population by a few hundred people.[13]

Banana Provisional School opened on 18 September 1871 and was upgraded to Banana State School on 16 February 1874. The school closed in 1935, but reopened on 25 January 1960.[14][15][16]

In 1880, the local government area Banana Division (later the Shire of Banana) was established with its headquarters in Banana (taking its name from the town). However, in 1930 the shire headquarters became Rannes and the shire offices were physically relocated from Banana to Rannes. Since 1946, the shire has its headquarters in Biloela.[17]

The mobile library service commenced in 2004.[18]

At the 2006 census, Banana had a population of 627.[19]

In the 2011 census, Banana had a population of 377 people.[20]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Banana had a population of 356 people.[1]

Economy

The beef industry is still a mainstay of the town and area, along with coal and agriculture.

Education

Banana State School, 2022
Bull statue, Banana State School, 2014

Banana State School is a government primary (P-6) school at 36 Bramston Street (24°28′09″S 150°07′52″E / 24.469134°S 150.131069°E / -24.469134; 150.131069 (Banana State School)). In 2012, there were 37 students enrolled with 3 teachers (2.5 full-time equivalent). [21][22]

There are no secondary schools in Banana; the nearest government secondary schools are Moura State High School in neighbouring Moura to the west and Biloela State High School in Biloela to the east.[23]

Amenities

Banana Uniting Church, 2014

Banana has a Uniting Church at 39 Bowen Street (Leichhardt Highway) at the corner with North Street (24°28′08″S 150°07′42″E / 24.46875°S 150.12821°E / -24.46875; 150.12821 (Banana Uniting Church)).[24][25]

Banana Shire Council operate a fortnightly mobile library service to Banana and the school.[26][27]

The Banana branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 123 Bramston Street.[28]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Banana (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Banana – town in Shire of Banana (entry 1469)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  3. ↑ "Banana – locality in Shire of Banana (entry 49534)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  4. ↑ This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Gangalu". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "ACCEPTED TENDERS FOR RUNS". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 40. New South Wales, Australia. 9 March 1855. p. 648. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ Skinner, Leslie Edward (1 January 1975), Police of the pastoral frontier : native police, 1849-1859, University of Queensland Press, archived from the original on 26 October 2020, retrieved 26 October 2020
  7. ↑ Banana, Central Queensland: yesterday and today. Biloela, Queensland, Australia: The Central Telegraph. 1974. p. 30.
  8. ↑ From series of articles published under the title Queensland place names and obelisks by Sydney May (formerly Honorary Secretary of the Queensland Place Names Committee) in Local Government, June 1957 - November 1964
  9. ↑ "Shire Information". Banana Shire. Banana Shire Council. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  10. ↑ Porter, Harry S. (1954) Queensland Numeral Cancellations, p. 13. Melbourne: The Hawthorn Press
  11. ↑ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  12. ↑ "Advertising". Rockhampton Bulletin And Central Queensland Advertiser. No. 6. Queensland, Australia. 10 August 1861. p. 4. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ "Rannes". Morning Bulletin. Vol. XXXIX, no. 7005. Queensland, Australia. 8 November 1887. p. 5. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ↑ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  15. ↑ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  16. ↑ "Agency ID 4814, Banana State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  17. ↑ "Banana Shire". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  18. ↑ "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  19. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Banana (Banana Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  20. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Banana (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  21. ↑ "Queensland State and Non-State Schools". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  22. ↑ "2012 School Annual Report" (PDF). Banana State School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  23. ↑ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  24. ↑ "Banana Uniting Church". Dawson Valley Uniting Church. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  25. ↑ "Find a church". Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  26. ↑ "Library: Branches & Opening hours". Banana Shire Council. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  27. ↑ "Banana Shire Mobile Library Timetable" (PDF). Banana Shire Council. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  28. ↑ "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.

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