Biloela

Biloela
Queensland
The Silo, Biloela
Biloela
Coordinates 24°25′0″S 150°30′0″E / 24.41667°S 150.50000°E / -24.41667; 150.50000Coordinates: 24°25′0″S 150°30′0″E / 24.41667°S 150.50000°E / -24.41667; 150.50000
Population 5,758 (2016 census)[1]
Established 1924
Postcode(s) 4715
Elevation 175.0 m (574 ft)
Location
LGA(s) Banana Shire Council
State electorate(s) Callide
Federal Division(s) Flynn
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
29.0 °C
84 °F		 13.2 °C
56 °F		 667.6 mm
26.3 in
Localities around Biloela:
Dakenba Dakenba Valentine Plains
Prospect Biloela Valentine Plains
Prospect Prospect Valentine Plains

Biloela (/bɪloʊˈiːlə/ BIL-oh-EE-lə)[2] is a rural town and locality in Shire of Banana, Central Queensland, Australia.[3][4] It is situated 120 kilometres (75 mi) inland from the port city of Gladstone at the junction of the Burnett and Dawson highways. Biloela is the administrative centre of Banana Shire, which has an area of 15,729 square kilometres (6,073 sq mi).

Etymology

The name Biloela is generally believed to be the Aboriginal word (possibly from the Sydney area) for black or white cockatoo.[3][4] The Government dockyards in Sydney were known as Biloela during 1871–1913 in an endeavour to remove the perceived stigma of the prior Cockatoo Island convict establishment.[5][6][7]

History

The town was established on what had once been Kangulu tribal lands.[8] The town was gazetted in 1924; it was on the Rannes-Monto railway line.[9] Land sales were held in Rannes in December 1924.[10]

Biloela Post Office opened by January 1925[11] and Biloela State School opened on 22 June 1925.[12]

The first open-cut mine was established in 1942.

In 1963, work began on the Callide Power Station.

The Biloela State High School opened on 29 January 1963.[12]

Population

At the 2016 census, Biloela had a population of 5,727.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 4.3% of the population.
  • 77.7% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 1.9% and Philippines 1.8%.
  • 82.7% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Vietnamese at 1.9%.
  • The most common responses for religion were Catholic 25.7%, Anglican 18.3% and No Religion 17.2%.[1]

Heritage listings

Biloela has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Climate

Biloela has a warm subtropical climate, with hot to warm temperatures all year round. Winter nights can occasionally drop below freezing, however winters are usually warm and dry, with pleasant sunny days. Summers are hot and humid, with most rain falling with occasional thunderstorms. Record temperatures have ranged from 43.1 °C (109.6 °F) to −4.7 °C (23.5 °F). The wettest 24-hour rainfall was 199.6 millimetres (7.86 in) on 31 January 1978.


Climate data for Biloela
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 43.1
(109.6)		 41.0
(105.8)		 42.4
(108.3)		 36.1
(97)		 35.0
(95)		 30.2
(86.4)		 30.1
(86.2)		 34.5
(94.1)		 38.7
(101.7)		 38.3
(100.9)		 39.8
(103.6)		 41.4
(106.5)		 43.1
(109.6)
Average high °C (°F) 33.5
(92.3)		 32.7
(90.9)		 32.0
(89.6)		 29.6
(85.3)		 26.2
(79.2)		 23.3
(73.9)		 23.2
(73.8)		 24.9
(76.8)		 28.1
(82.6)		 30.4
(86.7)		 31.8
(89.2)		 32.9
(91.2)		 29.0
(84.2)
Average low °C (°F) 19.7
(67.5)		 19.7
(67.5)		 17.7
(63.9)		 14.0
(57.2)		 9.9
(49.8)		 7.0
(44.6)		 5.5
(41.9)		 6.4
(43.5)		 9.8
(49.6)		 13.3
(55.9)		 16.4
(61.5)		 18.6
(65.5)		 13.2
(55.8)
Record low °C (°F) 12.3
(54.1)		 12.3
(54.1)		 9.2
(48.6)		 0.8
(33.4)		 −1.4
(29.5)		 −2.8
(27)		 −4.7
(23.5)		 −3.3
(26.1)		 −0.7
(30.7)		 2.6
(36.7)		 4.9
(40.8)		 8.7
(47.7)		 −4.7
(23.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 98.1
(3.862)		 95.9
(3.776)		 61.2
(2.409)		 34.5
(1.358)		 39.3
(1.547)		 32.2
(1.268)		 28.1
(1.106)		 23.4
(0.921)		 25.5
(1.004)		 56.1
(2.209)		 75.6
(2.976)		 95.8
(3.772)		 665.7
(26.208)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2mm) 7.8 7.4 5.9 4.1 3.9 3.5 3.6 3.2 3.1 5.6 6.5 7.4 62
Source: Bureau of Meteorology[15]

Industry

Biloela and the Banana Shire, dubbed by the council as 'The Shire of Opportunity', has a diverse range of industries.[16] Extensive grazing and cropping concerns are found in the area. Cotton, sorghum and wheat are grown in the area. The Callide Power Stations lie just north of the town. Coal was discovered on Callide Creek in 1891[17] and is now mined at the nearby Callide[18] and Boundary Hill mines which supply the power station. The third largest abattoir in Queensland is situated in the town.[19]

Callide is an open-cut mining operation providing low sulphur, sub-bituminous thermal coal primarily for Queensland's domestic power generation.

Callide Dam

The closest fresh water depository is the Callide Dam, however it is often well below capacity due to low rainfall in the area. Despite this, the dam acts as a popular site for water skiing, camping, swimming and fishing. In particular, the dam is a haven for Eel-tailed catfish, Yellowbelly, Saratoga and Barramundi. The largest ever Barramundi recorded was at the 2008 Callide Dam fishing competition, measuring 138 centimetres (54 in).

The Callide Dam was constructed in 1965 to supply water for a nearby power station in Biloela in the state of Queensland, Australia. Callide Dam holds 136,300 megalitres (3.60×1010 US gal) at an average depth of 10.5 metres (34 ft) and a surface area of 1,240 hectares (3,100 acres) at full capacity. The dam supplies water to the Callide Power Station.

Schools

Biloela has two primary schools: St Joseph's Catholic Primary (private), and Biloela State School. It has a private school college, Redeemer Lutheran College, and it has one state high school (Biloela State High School).

Facilities

Ambulance station, 2014

The Banana Shire Council has its shire chambers at 62 Valentine Plains Road.[20] There is an ambulance station at 32 Kariboe Street.[21]

Banana Shire Council operate a library on the corner of Grevillia and Melton Streets.[22]

Events

Biloela holds an annual Rockfest (music festival) in March.[23]

Also in March, the Callide Dam also plays host to the annual Callide Dam Fishing Competition in which a number of introduced stock are caught.[23]

In April, Rotary holds its annual Ute muster.[23]

The Callide Valley Show including the Callide Valley Ball and the Rodeo are held each May.[23]

The Callide Dawson Machinery Preservation Club holds an annual Old Wheels in Motion Rally in July.[24]

November has a number of annual events: the Arts and Crafts Day, the Brigalow Arts Festival and the Biloela Festival.[23]

Sports

Various sporting organisations are active within the community, such as Panthers Rugby League Club, Biloela Rugby Union Club, Biloela Touch Football Association, Callide Valley Tennis Association, Biloela Netball Association, Biloela Golf Club, Biloela Cricket Association, Biloela Valley's Football Club (soccer), Biloela Swimming Club, Biloela Dirt Rider Club and the Biloela Police Citizens Youth Club.

Media

Biloela's local newspaper is the Central Telegraph which is issued weekly. The newspaper was formerly owned by APN News & Media but has been owned by News Corp Australia since 2016.[25][26]

Gladstone-based AM radio station 4CC services the Biloela area via a local transmitter which broadcasts on a separate frequency to the main Gladstone transmitter.[27] This enables 4CC to play separate commercial breaks in the Bilolea region, to attract Biloela businesses to buy advertising, to target people in the local area as opposed to the entire Central Queensland region.[28]

Rebel Media stations Rebel FM[29] and The Breeze[30] also broadcast to Biloela and other centres in the Banana Shire, although neither station has any local programming as all their programs originate from studios on the Gold Coast. Rebel FM has a new rock & classic rock music format while The Breeze offers an easy adult contemporary & classics hits format.

Biloela receives all free-to-air television services part of the Central Queensland television market, therefore receives the Rockhampton-based television stations and their associated local news bulletins and commercial breaks. News from the Biloela area is often included in the local news bulletins originating from Rockhampton.[31][32][33]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Biloela (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 January 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ↑ Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
  3. 1 2 "Biloela - town in Shire of Banana (entry 2623)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Biloela - locality in Shire of Banana (entry 49537)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  5. ↑ "THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 27 May 1871. p. 7. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "THE FORTHCOMING AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW". The Empire. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 3 June 1871. p. 2. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "MELBOURNE". Australian Town and Country Journal. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 3 June 1871. p. 8. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Tindale Tribes - Kangulu". South Australian Museum Archives. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  9. ↑ "Biloela". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 8 February 2004. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  10. ↑ "ROCKHAMPTON". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 26 December 1924. p. 7. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  11. ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "Greycliffe Homestead (entry 600017)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Banana Shire Historical Society / Greycliffe Homestead". Museum and Gallery Services Queensland. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  15. ↑ "THANGOOL AIRPORT". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  16. ↑ "Mayor's Message". Banana Shire Council. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  17. ↑ Kerr, J.D. (October 1978). "The Callide Coalfields Branch Railway". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin: 210–222.
  18. ↑ Milne, Rod (October 1992). "'Biloela – Railhead for the Callide". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin: 241–247.
  19. ↑ "Introducing Banana Shire". Banana Shire. Archived from the original on 16 October 2002. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  20. ↑ "Contact Us". Banana Shire Council. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "Queensland Ambulance Service – Biloela". My Community Directory. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  22. ↑ "Library: Branches & Opening hours". Banana Shire Council. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 "Simple Pleasures: Banana Shire" (PDF). The Gladstone Region. Tourism Queensland. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  24. ↑ "Old Wheels in Motion Rally". Callide Dawson Machinery Preservation Club. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  25. ↑ "Central Telegraph information". Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  26. ↑ Johns, Bryce (22 June 2016) What News Corp purchasing us means for you Archived 29 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine., Central Telegraph, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  27. ↑ Harris, Matt (25 August 2017) Long overdue move for the 4CC team Archived 29 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine., Central Telegraph, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  28. ↑ "4CC". Archived from the original on 8 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  29. ↑ "Rebel FM". Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  30. ↑ "Breeze FM frequency information". Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  31. ↑ McGhee, Rachel (26 June 2017) Biloela's First Lady Archived 7 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine., WIN News Central Queensland, WIN Television. Accessed 28 April 2018.
  32. ↑ Ross, Susan (27 June 2017) Suspended birthing services in Biloela, 7 News Central Queensland, Seven Network. Accessed 28 April 2018.
  33. ↑ Cullen, Alexandra (12 March 2018) Biloela's Heartfelt Plea, 9 News Central Queensland, Southern Cross Austereo. Accessed 28 April 2018.
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