Miles, Queensland

Miles Queensland
The main street of Miles
Miles
Population:	1,164[1]
Postcode:	4415
Coordinates:	26°40′S 150°11′E / 26.667°S 150.183°E / -26.667; 150.183Coordinates: 26°40′S 150°11′E / 26.667°S 150.183°E / -26.667; 150.183
Elevation:	302 m (991 ft) [2]
Location:	337 km (209 mi) WNW of Brisbane 211 km (131 mi) NW of Toowoomba 127 km (79 mi) NW of Dalby 141 km (88 mi) E of Roma
LGA:	Western Downs Region
State District:	Warrego
Federal Division:	Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 27.1 °C 81 °F 12.2 °C 54 °F 650.6 mm 25.6 in

Miles is a small town in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Miles had a population of 1,164.^[1]

The town is situated on the Warrego Highway, 340 kilometres west of Brisbane, the state capital. Formerly known as Dogwood Crossing, the town is situated on Dogwood Creek, named by German explorer Ludwig Leichhardt in 1844. The town was renamed Miles in honour of the Queensland Colonial Secretary, William Miles.

Climate

Miles is located on the Western Downs, at an elevation of 304 m. The region around Miles has hot summers with mean maximum temperatures in January of 33.1° Celsius falling to 19.3 in July. Average rainfall is 655.7 mm, falling mainly in the period between November and February^[3]

Industry

The economy of Miles is based mainly on agriculture and cropping, producing wheat, sorghum, barley and cotton. Timber production is another area of economic activity and in common with much of Western Queensland, cattle and sheep grazing, including feedlots is widespread.

A mining industry utilising rich deposits of bentonite clay is developing.^[4]

In addition, there are the following developing industries:

• Coal seam gas
• coal mining
• electricity generation

Transport

Miles is connected to Brisbane, Toowoomba and Roma by the Warrego Highway and Goondiwindi and Rockhampton by the Leichhardt Highway. Greyhound Australia operates 3 daily bus services between Brisbane and Mount Isa via Longreach and Charleville, and Coach QLD opereates three buses a week between Toowoomba and Rockhampton, via Miles. The Westlander train also comes through Miles twice a week, on its way between Brisbane and Charleville, at very early hours of Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Miles (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=UCL338000&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2008-07-05. 
2. ^ Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved on 2008-07-05.
3. ^ Bureau of Meteorology (Australia) Retrieved 22 October 2006
4. ^ Queensland Department of State Development and Industry Retrieved 22 October 2006

External links

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Miles
• Sydney Morning Herald Travel
• Dogwood Crossing - The local gallery, library and IT resource centre.