Brandon is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, Brandon had a population of 1,094 people.[1]
| Brandon Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Brandon | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 19°33′15″S 147°21′17″E / 19.5541°S 147.3547°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 1,094 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 9.900/km2 (25.642/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4808 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 110.5 km2 (42.7 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Burdekin | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Burdekin | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Dawson | ||||||||||||||
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History
Brandon was surveyed as a site for a township in 1882 and the first allotments were sold later that year.[4] The town is named after Henry Brandon a sugar pioneer in the Mackay and Lower Burdekin regions.[5] Henry Brandon was also the son-in-law of the colonist, Korah Halcomb Wills.[6]
Brandon Post Office opened on 6 September 1883.[7] Prior to that a Receiving office called Pioneer Estate, Lower Burdekin had serviced the area. The Receiving office name was changed to Brandon in August 1883.[8]
Brandon Provisional School opened in the town on 9 April 1888. It became Brandon State School on 11 July 1898.[9]
Kalamia State School opened beside the Kalamia Sugar Mill on 18 July 1928.[9]
In the 2006 census, the town of Brandon had a population of 783.[10]
In the 2011 census, the locality of Brandon had a population of 1,267 people.[11]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Brandon had a population of 1,094 people.[1]
Heritage listings
Brandon has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- 27 Spiller Street: St Patrick's Catholic Church[12]
Economy
Brandon is a sugarcane growing area with underground water supplies to irrigate crops. Wilmar Sugar Australia operates two sugar mills in Brandon, the Kalamia Sugar Mill in the north-east of the locality on Lilliesmere Road beside the Lilliesmere Lagoon (19°31′22″S 147°24′59″E / 19.5229°S 147.4163°E) and the Pioneer Sugar Mill in the west of the locality on Pioneer Mill Road (19°33′30″S 147°19′51″E / 19.5583°S 147.3309°E).[13]
Education
Brandon State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Drysdale Street (19°33′13″S 147°20′55″E / 19.5537°S 147.3485°E).[14][15] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 45 students with 4 teachers and 6 non-teaching staff (4 full-time equivalent).[16]
Kalamia State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Lilliesmere Road (19°31′07″S 147°25′03″E / 19.5185°S 147.4176°E).[14][17] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 14 students with 1 teacher and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[16]
There are no secondary schools in Brandon. The nearest government secondary school is Ayr State High School in neighbouring Ayr to the east.[18]
Sport
Pioneer Park Speedway is a motorcycle speedway venue to the south west on Bruce Highway.[19][20] The track has been a significant venue for important speedway events, including qualifying rounds of the Speedway World Championship[21][22] and the final of the Australian Solo Championship.[23]
See also
References
External links
- "Brandon". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
- "Town map of Brandon". Queensland Government. 1973.
- Burdekin Online
- Burdekin Shire Council
