Banana, Queensland


Banana is a small town and rural locality in the Shire of Banana, Central Queensland, Australia.

Geography

Banana is located at the intersection of the Dawson and Leichhardt highways, west of the shire's administrative centre, Biloela.

History

Gangalu is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Gangula country. The Gangula language region includes the towns of Clermont and Springsure extending south towards the Dawson River.
The station property of Banana was gazetted in 1855, and an 1859 map shows a police station marked on the planned site for Banana. The name derives from an old dun-coloured working bullock, called Banana, used by local stockmen to help them when herding some of the wilder cattle into the yards.
At the time of the Canoona rush, gold was found in Banana's Gully and a town of at least 2,000 people sprang up there.
The post office at Banana was established on 1 September 1861.
Banana Provisional School opened on 18 September 1871 and was upgraded to Banana State School on 16 February 1874. The school closed in 1935, but reopened on 25 January 1960.
In 1880, the local government area Banana Division was established with its headquarters in Banana. However, in 1930 the shire headquarters became Rannes and the shire offices were physically relocated from Banana to Rannes. Since 1946, the shire has its headquarters in Biloela.
The mobile library service commenced in 2004.
In the 2011 census, Banana had a population of 377 people.

Economy

The beef industry is still a mainstay of the town and area, along with coal and agriculture.

Education

Banana State School is a government primary school at 36 Bramston Street. In 2012, there were 37 students enrolled with 3 teachers. There is no secondary school in Banana; the nearest are in Moura to the west and Biloela to the east.

Amenities

Banana has a Uniting Church at 39 Bowen Street at the corner with North Street.
Banana Shire Council operate a fortnightly mobile library service to Banana and the school.
The Banana branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 123 Bramston Street.

Past population

At the 2006 census, Banana had a population of 627.