Biloela
| Biloela Queensland | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The Silo, Biloela | |||||||
  Biloela | |||||||
| Coordinates | 24°25′0″S 150°30′0″E / 24.41667°S 150.50000°ECoordinates: 24°25′0″S 150°30′0″E / 24.41667°S 150.50000°E | ||||||
| Population | 5,808 (2011)[1] | ||||||
| Established | 1924 | ||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4715 | ||||||
| Elevation | 175.0 m (574 ft) | ||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Banana Shire Council | ||||||
| State electorate(s) | Callide | ||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Flynn | ||||||
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Biloela (/bɪləˈwiːlə/ bil-ə-WEE-lə)[2] is a rural town in Central Queensland, Australia. It is situated 120 kilometres (75 mi) inland from the port city of Gladstone at the junction of the Burnett and Dawson highways. At the 2011 census, Biloela had a population of 5,808.[1] Biloela is the administrative centre for the Banana Shire, which has an area of 15,729 square kilometres (6,073 sq mi).
Etymology
Biloela is generally believed to be Aboriginal for 'black or white cockatoo' (the Government dockyards were known as Biloela during 1870–1913 in an endeavour to remove the perceived stigma of the prior Cockatoo Island convict establishment).
History
The town was gazetted in 1924.[3] The first open-cut mine was established in 1942. In 1963, work began on the Callide Power Station.
Heritage listings
Biloela has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- 48 Gladstone Road: Greycliffe Homestead[4]
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 the 31 of 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) |
35.4 (95.7) |
38.0 (100.4) |
39.8 (103.6) |
41.4 (106.5) |
43.1 (109.6) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 33.6 (92.5) |
32.7 (90.9) |
32.1 (89.8) |
29.7 (85.5) |
26.3 (79.3) |
23.4 (74.1) |
23.1 (73.6) |
24.9 (76.8) |
28.0 (82.4) |
30.2 (86.4) |
31.7 (89.1) |
32.9 (91.2) |
29.0 (84.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 19.7 (67.5) |
19.8 (67.6) |
17.7 (63.9) |
14.1 (57.4) |
9.8 (49.6) |
6.9 (44.4) |
5.5 (41.9) |
6.4 (43.5) |
9.9 (49.8) |
13.4 (56.1) |
16.3 (61.3) |
18.7 (65.7) |
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) |
| Rainfall mm (inches) | 98.6 (3.882) |
97.8 (3.85) |
61.2 (2.409) |
34.9 (1.374) |
39.8 (1.567) |
32.7 (1.287) |
28.6 (1.126) |
23.5 (0.925) |
25.3 (0.996) |
57.0 (2.244) |
74.5 (2.933) |
93.7 (3.689) |
667.6 (26.282) |
| Avg. rainy days (≥ 0.2mm) | 7.8 | 7.5 | 5.8 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 5.7 | 6.5 | 7.4 | 62.2 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology[5] | |||||||||||||
Industry
Biloela and the Banana Shire, dubbed by the council as 'The Shire of Opportunity', has a diverse range of industries. 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[6] and is now mined at the nearby Callide[7] and Boundary Hill mines which supply the power station. The third largest abattoir in Queensland is situated in the town.[8]
Infrastructure
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. The Callide Dam also plays host to the annual Callide Dam Fishing Competition in which a number of introduced stock are caught each year. 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).
==Schools== Biloela has two primary schools: St Joseph's Catholic Primary (private), and Biloela State Primary. It has a private school college, Redeemer Lutheran College, and it has one state high school (Biloela State High School).
Tourism
The town has various sites for tourist accommodation (400 beds), many dining options, two main shopping streets, including a modern air conditioned shopping centre with many specialty stores. There are many destinations which are great to visit as a family or individually including Kroombit Tops, The Mine and Power Station lookout, the Callide Dam, the Silo and the Lions Park. Standing above surrounding farmlands the sandstone escarpments, gorges, creeks and waterfalls of Kroombit Tops provide a cool retreat. Explore intriguing natural and cultural wonders hidden among a mosaic of woodlands, rainforests and scrublands. Callide is an open-cut mining operation providing low sulphur, sub-bituminous thermal coal primarily for Queensland’s domestic power generation. You can get a great view of the opencut mine and the dragline.
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.
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 and the Biloela Police Citizens Youth Club.
Radio
Zinc927 (previously known as 4CC) owned by Prime Radio, is an AM commercial station servicing Biloela on the local 666 AM frequency, although its local breakfast show is presented from the Zinc studio in Gladstone. Zinc has a classic rock format and also relies heavily on networked programming from their Sunshine Coast studios.
Rebel FM 88.9 (MHz) was Banana Shires first commercial FM radio station. Rebel FM has a new rock & classic rock music format. The Breeze broadcasts on 89.7 FM (MHz) with an easy adult contemporary & classics hits format. Both stations are part of the Rebel Media group.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Biloela (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- ↑ Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
- ↑ "Biloela". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). 8 February 2004. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- ↑ "Greycliffe Homestead (entry 14792)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
- ↑ "THANGOOL AIRPORT". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved July 2013.
- ↑ The Callide Coalfields Branch Railway Kerr, J.D. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, October, 1978 pp210-222
- ↑ Biloela – Railhead for the Callide Milne, Rod Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, October, 1992 pp241-247
- ↑ "Introducing Banana Shire". Banana Shire. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Biloela. |
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