Dirranbandi, Queensland
Encyclopedia
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.
, Dirranbandi had a population of 437.
The Culgoa Floodplain National Park
lies 130 km to the south-west. The town experienced serious flooding in February-March 2010 and January 2011.
Dirranbandi is located on the traditional lands of the Kooma
people. However people in Dirranbandi recognise themselves as Kamilaroi
.
hails from Dirranbandi.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, located in the Shire of Balonne. It sits on the Castlereagh Highway
Castlereagh Highway
The Castlereagh Highway is a state highway in New South Wales, Australia, also extending some kilometres into Queensland. It has been given the route number 55. The highway was recently extended past Gilgandra to include state route 86...
and the Balonne River
Balonne River
The Balonne River, part of the Murray-Darling Basin system, is a short but important part of the inland river group of south-eastern Queensland. This river is a continuation of the Condamine River. After flowing through Surat the river flows south south-westerly down through the E.J...
. It is notable for the population increase each year as seasonal workers come to work on the extensive cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
fields. Due to the low annual rainfall, irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
is used extensively. Cubbie Station
Cubbie Station
Cubbie Station, located near Dirranbandi, Australia, is the largest privately owned irrigation property in the southern hemisphere....
the largest privately owned cotton property in the southern hemisphere is close to Dirranbandi.
History
The town reserve was surveyed in 1885. One hundred housing allotments were first set asside, followed by land for a police station, a state school, and post office. The railway reached Dirranbandi on 22 May 1913. Dirranbandi had the honour of being the destination for the last mail train to operate in Australia. At the 2006 censusCensus in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Dirranbandi had a population of 437.
The Culgoa Floodplain National Park
Culgoa Floodplain National Park
Culgoa Floodplain National Park is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 627 km west of Brisbane. The park occupies the former pastoral and grazing property of Byra Station....
lies 130 km to the south-west. The town experienced serious flooding in February-March 2010 and January 2011.
Dirranbandi is located on the traditional lands of the Kooma
Kooma
The Kooma are an Indigenous Australian tribe living in the border region of Queensland and New South Wales. Category:Aboriginal tribes of New South Wales...
people. However people in Dirranbandi recognise themselves as Kamilaroi
Kamilaroi
The Kamilaroi or Gamilaraay are an Indigenous Australian people who are from the area between Tamworth and Goondiwindi, and west to Narrabri, Walgett and Lightning Ridge, in northern New South Wales...
.
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 NortonLes Norton
Les Norton is the main protagonist in a series of fiction books written by Australian author Robert G. Barrett.A likeable and laconic Aussie battler, Norton first appears in You Wouldn't Be Dead For Quids and is described as stockily built with the signature feature of red hair. He doesn't mind a...
hails from Dirranbandi.