Shire of Banana

Shire of Banana Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population	15,597 (2009)[1]
• Density	0.98993/km2 (2.56392/sq mi)
Established	1879
Area	15,755.6 km2 (6,083.3 sq mi)
Mayor	John Hooper
Council seat	Biloela
Region	Central Queensland
State electorate(s)	Callide
Federal Division(s)	Flynn
Website	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

Map of Banana Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902

Banana Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 2155.^[2] The name Banana does not relate to the fruit, but rather the area was named after a dun coloured bullock called Banana.^[3]

On 20 April 1881 part of Banana Division was separated to create Duaringa Division.^[4]

With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Banana Division became Shire on Banana 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

• Biloela
• Banana
• Baralaba
• Cracow
• Dululu
• Goovigen
• Jambin
• Lawgi
• Moura
• Taroom
• Thangool
• Theodore
• Wowan

References

Coordinates: 24°23′52″S 150°30′40″E / 24.39778°S 150.51111°E / -24.39778; 150.51111