Banana, Queensland
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox Australian place Banana is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia.<ref name=qpnt>Template:Cite QPN</ref><ref name=qpnl>Template:Cite QPN</ref> In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Banana had a population of 348 people.<ref name=Census2021/>
Geography
Banana is located at the intersection of the Dawson and Leichhardt highways, Template:Convert 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.<ref>Template:Cite SLQ-CC-BY</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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 resulting 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.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
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.<ref name="qpnt" /><ref name="May">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</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The post office at Banana was established on 1 September 1861,<ref>Porter, Harry S. (1954) Queensland Numeral Cancellations, p. 13. Melbourne: The Hawthorn Press</ref><ref name = "Post Office">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the first township allotments were offered for sale in that same year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1887, there was a minor gold rush at Banana, increasing the population by a few hundred people.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref name=qs>Template:Cite QldSchool</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite QSA Agency</ref>
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.<ref name=qp>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The mobile library service commenced in 2004.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Demographics
In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Banana had a population of 627 people.<ref name=Census2006>Template:Census 2006 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Banana had a population of 377 people.<ref name="Census2011">Template:Census 2011 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Banana had a population of 356 people.<ref name=Census2016>Template:Census 2016 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Banana had a population of 348 people.<ref name=Census2021>Template:Census 2021 AUS</ref>
Economy
The beef industry is still a mainstay of the town and area, along with coal and agriculture.
Education
Banana State School is a government primary (P-6) school for boys and girls at 32-36 Bramston Street (Template:Coord).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2012, there were 37 students enrolled with 3 teachers (2.5 full-time equivalent).<ref name=qsx>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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.<ref name="globe">Template:Queensland Globe</ref>
Amenities
Banana has a Uniting Church at 39 Bowen Street (Leichhardt Highway) at the corner with North Street (Template:Coord).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Banana Shire Council operate a fortnightly mobile library service to Banana and the school.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref>
The Banana branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 123 Bramston Street.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
References
Further reading
External links
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