Brandon Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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Coordinates | 19°33′15″S 147°21′17″E / 19.5541°S 147.3547°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 1,088 ( 2021 census) [1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 9.846/km2 (25.501/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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Brandon is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia. [2] [3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Brandon had a population of 1,088 people. [1]
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 people. [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. [12]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Brandon had a population of 1,088 people. [1]
Brandon has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
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). [14]
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). [15] [16] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 45 students with 4 teachers and 6 non-teaching staff (4 full-time equivalent). [17]
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). [15] [18] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 14 students with 1 teacher and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent). [17]
There are no secondary schools in Brandon. The nearest government secondary school is Ayr State High School in neighbouring Ayr to the east. [19]
Pioneer Park Speedway is a motorcycle speedway venue to the south west on Bruce Highway. [20] [21] The track has been a significant venue for important speedway events, including qualifying rounds of the Speedway World Championship [22] [23] and the final of the Australian Solo Championship. [24]