Dirranbandi, Queensland

Dirranbandi Queensland
Dirranbandi
Dirranbandi
Population:	437[1]
Established:	1885
Postcode:	4486
Coordinates:	28°35′S 148°14′E / 28.583°S 148.233°E / -28.583; 148.233Coordinates: 28°35′S 148°14′E / 28.583°S 148.233°E / -28.583; 148.233
Elevation:	173 m (568 ft)
Location:	608 km (378 mi) W of Brisbane 80 km (50 mi) SW of St George
LGA:	Balonne Shire
State District:	Warrego
Federal Division:	Maranoa

Dirranbandi is a town in south-western Queensland, Australia, located in the Shire of Balonne. It sits on the Castlereagh Highway and the Balonne River. It is notable for the population increase each year as seasonal workers come to work on the extensive cotton fields. Due to the low annual rainfall, irrigation is used extensively. Cubbie Station the largest privately owned cotton property in the southern hemisphere is close to Dirranbandi.

History

The town reserve was surveyed in 1885^[2]. One hundred housing allotments were first set asside, followed by land for a police station, a state school, and post office.^[3] The railway reached Dirranbandi on 22 May 1913. ^[4] Dirranbandi had the honour of being the destination for the last mail train to operate in Australia.^[4] At the 2006 census, Dirranbandi had a population of 437.^[1]

The Culgoa Floodplain National Park lies 130 km to the south-west.^[5] The town experienced serious flooding in February-March 2010 and January 2011.^[6]

Dirranbandi is located on the traditional lands of the Kooma people. However people in Dirranbandi recognise themselves as Kamilaroi.^{[citation needed]}

Origin of name

Dirranbandi is said by some to be an Aboriginal word meaning "swamp abounding in frogs and waterfowl". Although this is possible, there is no evidence in any of the region's languages to suggest that this is the case. The name appears to be derived from a Yuwaaliyaay dialect placename Dhurrunbandaay. It is said to be to do with dhurrun.gal ("hairy caterpillars") and baanda-y ("move in Indian file"). There is also a word dhirrinbaa (a Yuwaalaraay dialect noun), meaning "bad weather camp, on high ground", possibly from dhirrin ("high ground") and -baa ("place of, time of").

Fiction

Australian author Robert G Barrett's main character Les Norton hails from Dirranbandi.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Dirranbandi (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=UCL317600&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2008-01-27. 
2. ^ Centre for the Government of Queensland, Dirranbandi, [1], accessed 9 June 2011.
3. ^ Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to Australian Places. Sydney, NSW: Reader's Digest. 1993. pp. 492. ISBN 0 86438 399 1. 
4. ^ ^{a b} The Last of the Mail Trains Winney, Ken Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, July, 1990 pp155-166
5. ^ Queensland Government Department of Environment and Resource Management, Culgoa Floodplain National Park, [2], accessed 9 June 2011.
6. ^ Dan Nancarrow, From inland town to island town, 4 January 2011, [3], accessed 9 June 2011.

External links

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Dirranbandi