Shire of Banana

Shire of Banana
Queensland

Location within Queensland
Population: 15,597(2009)[1]
Established: 1879
Area: 15755.6 km² (6,083.3 sq mi)
Mayor: John Hooper
Council Seat: Biloela
Region: Central Queensland
State District: Callide
Federal Division: Flynn
Website: http://www.banana.qld.gov.au/
LGAs around Shire of Banana:
Rockhampton Rockhampton Gladstone
Central Highlands Shire of Banana North Burnett
Maranoa Western Downs North Burnett

The Shire of Banana is a Local Government Area located in the Capricorn region of Queensland, Australia, inland from the regional city of Gladstone. The shire was named after the burial site of a huge dun coloured bullock named 'Banana'. The council sits in the town of Biloela, which is the largest town in the Shire.

Major industries in the shire include coal mining, beef production, power generation, dryland cropping and irrigation cropping such as lucerne and cotton.

History

Banana Divisional Board was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, it became a shire council on 31 March 1903.

On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland on 10 August 2007, the Shire of Banana absorbed a significant part of the neighbouring Shire of Taroom, including the town of Taroom itself.

Towns and localities

References