Townships In The Banana Shire
Banana Banana is a small rural township located 45kms west of Biloela on the junction of the Dawson and Leichhardt Highways. The residents of Banana are friendly and offer good old country hospitality. The small historic town of Banana derives its name from a huge dun coloured bullock named 'Banana' that was used as a decoy to lead wild cattle to pens. After Banana's death his body was taken to a nearby gully that became known as 'Banana's Gully'. When a town developed in the vicinity it took the name of the gully and when the first Council sat there in 1880 the Shire was named after the town. Baralaba Baralaba (aboriginal for Land of the Blue Mountain) is located 96km north west of Biloela. Baralaba was once an important coal mining area with coal being railed to the Mt Morgan smelters. Beef/stud cattle, coarse grain farming and rapidly expanding irrigated crop farming, now maintain the town and district. Baralaba is a pleasant country town with a wide main street divided by a median strip covered in lawns, attractive shade trees and shrubbery. It is situated on the Dawson River and surrounded by fertile farming and grazing land. The Neville Hewitt Weir on the Dawson River is a popular recreation area. The weir boasts excellent fishing and the best water for boating and skiing in the Dawson/Callide Valley. Biloela Biloela (aboriginal for white cockatoo) is a rural service centre located in central eastern Queensland's Callide Valley at the junction of the Burnett and Dawson Highways. Biloela is 145km south-west of Rockhampton and127 km west of Gladstone. The town was gazetted in 1924 and the railway arrived the following year. Today Biloela is a modern town characterised by very broad streets and a well-established business centre. Due to its location at the intersection of the Dawson and Burnett Highways, the town is well supplied with accommodation and eating facilities. The Callide Coalfields are a major Queensland coal mining operation. The nearby mines and a healthy agricultural base, which includes the growing of sorghum, wheat and cotton, drive Biloela?s economy. It is also the centre of a very successful cattle-grazing area. Cracow The once prosperous gold mining town of Cracow (named after the Polish city) is located 154km south-east of Biloela. Gold was discovered in 1850, with the Golden Plateau N.L. Company operating the mine from 1936 to 1976. The town has recently been given a new lease of life with the re-opening of the gold mine. Much of the township of Cracow can be enjoyed on foot by taking a “walk tour” of the deserted buildings in the main street including the deserted hospital. You can also view the cemetery, many shops and enjoy the country hospitality of the hotel with its display of memorabilia. Take a short drive to “Cracow Beach” and marvel at the rare Livistona Palm prevalent to the Dawson River area. Dululu Dululu (aboriginal for “soft”) is situated 72km north of Biloela at the junction of the Burnett and Leichhardt Highways. This small but vibrant town caters for travellers through the Banana Shire and due to it's prime location at the junction of these two popular highways, has a driver/reviver facility in the local park. With the Dee River meandering along the outskirts of the town, Dululu is the centre of a diverse farming industry including stud cattle, horses, pigs, squab, agriculture, lucerne, grains, eggs, flowers and citrus orchards. Sports and leisure activities are in abundance around the town. Goovigen The turn off to Goovigen is located just north of the township of Jambin on the Burnett Highway. Situated just 6kms off the highway, the small township is nestled amongst many agricultural properties. Goovigen (aboriginal for Box Tree) was originally set up as a supply depot for the railways. Jambin The township of Jambin (aboriginal for Porcupine) is located 29km north-west of Biloela on the Burnett Highway. Originally set up as a supply depot for the railways, Jambin now forms an intricate part of the rich agricultural area. A visit to the local pub is a must when travelling along the Burnett Highway. Moura Moura township took it?s name from the Pastoral Holding "Moura". The town of Moura is located 65km from Biloela. This property was taken up in 1854 by Mr C. Marshall who had been a paymaster in Wellington's Army while engaged in battles in Portugal. Some of the battles were fought near Moura in South East Portugal. It is possible that Mr Marshall named his property after the town. Moura was laid out in 1936 on a typical grid pattern. At the time it was literally a farming service centre imposed on to the existing Moura station. Today Moura is a major cattle centre, in addition to producing coal, cotton and grain. It calls itself 'The Coal and Cattle Centre of the Dawson Valley'. Thangool The town of Thangool is located 12km south of Biloela. Thangool (meaning Possum) is an important lucerne and grazing area. Thangool is best known for its aerodrome, race track and proximity to Mt Scoria. With daily flights to and from Brisbane, Theodore is the gateway to the Callide Valley. The Thangool Race Course is the main track in the shire and hold regular meetings. Mt Scoria (meaning place of Fused Metals) is a rare rock formation. At 150 metres high, Mt Scoria was once the core of a volcano. Theodore Theodore is located on the Dawson River 105km south-west of Biloela. Previously called “Castle Creek”, Theodore was later named in honour of the former Queensland Premier, Mr E H Theodore. It is said that the town was architecturally designed by Walter Burley Griffin in the early 1920s before he went on to design Australia?s capital city, Canberra. The palm-lined roads are quite spectacular and the town is an impressive look-alike to the street plan of Canberra. Today Theodore is the service centre for the important irrigation and agriculture industries. The main irrigated crop is cotton. Dryland crops include wheat, sorghum and mung beans. There are many cattle breeding studs and a sawmill. Among many interesting sites to visit is the Glebe Weir located just outside Theodore where many recreational activities can be enjoyed. Theodore's Neville Hewitt Park is a popular stop for many travellers. Wowan The small rural township of Wowan (the aboriginal word for “Scrub Turkey”) is located 72km north of Biloela. First settled in 1912, the early properties were primarily dairy and cotton farms. Today's farms produce a wide variety of commodities including beef, hay, grain, pork and eggs. Perched on the bank of Pocket Creek, Wowan is rich with native flora and fauna. It is bordered by mountains to the south and west, with Mt Wheal being the largest. Wowan town offers visitors the opportunity to experience the friendly rural lifestyle that the residents enjoy. There are a wide variety of leisure activities including golf, bowls, cricket and gliding. |
