Dirranbandi is on the
Castlereagh Highway and the
Balonne River. It is notable for the population variations each year as seasonal workers come to work on the extensive
cotton fields. Due to the low annual rainfall,
irrigation is used extensively.
Yuwaalaraay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an
Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalaraay country. The Yuwaalaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the
Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of
Hebel extending to
Walgett and
Collarenebri in
New South Wales.[7]
Yuwaalayaay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an
Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalayaay country. It is closely related to the
Gamilaraay and
Yuwaalaraay languages. The Yuwaalayaay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the
Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of
Goodooga extending to
Walgett and the
Narran Lakes in New South Wales.[8]
The town reserve was surveyed in March 1885 by surveyor
Claudius Buchanan Whish. He is believed to have named the town using an Aboriginal word, meaning either broken forest country or chorus of frogs at night.[2][9] The name may be derived from a
Yuwaaliyaay dialect placename, Dhurrunbandaay, relating to dhurrun.gal ("hairy caterpillars") and baanda-y ("move in single file").
One hundred housing allotments were first set aside, followed by land for a police station, a state school, and post office.[10]
Dirranbandi Provisional School opened on 9 June 1902,[11] but closed in April 1905. It reopened on 20 January 1908 and became Dirranbandi State School on 1 January 1909. On 29 January 1963, a secondary department to Year 10 was added.[12]
The Catholic church in Dirranbandi was expected to be opened by
ArchbishopJames Duhig on Sunday 25 April 1926,[19] but it was not until 13 May 1928 that he was able to officially open St. Therese's Catholic Church.[20]
In September 1934 Mr. A. Clayton was contracted to build an Anglican church in Dirranbandi to the design of Brisbane architect, S. W. Prior. It was intended to be serviced by the
Bush Brotherhood.[21][22] By February 1935 it was open for services,[23] but it was not until Saturday 15 February 1936 that Bishop
Horace Dixon was able to come to Dirranbandi dedicate the church as St Mark's Anglican Church.[24][25]
Dirranbandi had the honour of being the destination for the last
mail train to operate in Australia.[when?][13] The
Thallon-to-Dirranbandi section of the line was closed on 2 September 2010.[26]
The
Culgoa Floodplain National Park lies 130 kilometres (81 mi) to the south-west.[27] The town experienced serious flooding in February–March 2010 and January 2011.[28]
During 2020 and 2021, the Queensland borders were closed to most people due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Border crossing points were either closed or had a
Queensland Police checkpoint to allow entry to only those people with an appropriate permit. The border crossing point on the Koomalah Road at Dirranbandi was closed.[29][30]
Demographics
At the
2011 census, Dirranbandi had a population of 711.[31]
In the
2016 census, Dirranbandi had a population of 640 people. 79.9% of people were born in Australia and 85.2% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 29.3%, Anglican 26.5%, and No Religion 14.8%.[32]
In the
2021 census, the locality of Dirranbandi had a population of 610 people.[5]
For secondary education to Year 12, the nearest government school is St George State High School in neighbouring
St George to the north-west, but, given the distance,
distance education and boarding school would be other options.[4]
Facilities
Dirranbandi has a hospital, civic centre, swimming pool, park and showground.[37]
Tom Dancey (1888–1957), a local stockman and Indigenous Australian, won Australia's most famous footrace, the
Stawell Gift in 1910.[47] It is indicated the £1000 prize money was kept by his handlers and he only got the trophy.[48]
Brigadier General
William Grant (1870–1939) post-
WW1 bought land in the area. He was involved in the
Australian Light Horse. Artwork commemorates Dirranbandi's contributions to the Light Horse in terms of men and horses.[49]
Actor
Ray Meagher grew up near Dirranbandi. He is best known for playing
Alf Stewart on soap opera
Home and Away, and credits one of his character's catchphrases "Stone the flamin' crows!" to Dick Backhouse who was a stock and station agent in town.[50]
Gallery
Town sign (2021).
Castlereagh Highway to the eastern approach, Noondoo (2021).
Southern approach to town (2021).
Civic Centre and library, Kirby Street (2021).
Footpath along Kirby Street (2021).
Railway Street main street (2021).
Entrance to the show grounds, Kirby Street (2021).
J G Hile Park, and water tower, Richardson Street (2021).
Dirran Pub public hotel motel (2021).
Queensland Police Service police station, Kirby Street (2021).
Australia Post Office, Railway and Richardson Streets (2021).
Queensland Ambulance Service ambulance, Toyota Land Cruiser (2021).
Artwork of the Dirranbandi Dandy, Railway Street Park (2021).
Artwork of the Australian Light Horse (Beersheba Memorial), Railway Street Park (2021).
Painted posts on Kirby Street (2021).
War memorial, Kirby Street (2021).
War memorial, Kirby Street (2021).
Queensland Country Women's Association rest room, Kirby Street (2021).
Queensland Country Women's Association rest room, Kirby Street (2021).
Narran River before Minnum Road, south of Dirranbandi (2021).
^Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society,
ISBN978-1-921171-26-0
^"NATIONAL FUND". The Brisbane Courier. No. 21, 933. Queensland, Australia. 14 May 1928. p. 13.
Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". Balonne Beacon. Vol. 30, no. 34. Queensland, Australia. 16 August 1934. p. 4.
Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"NEW CHURCH FOR DIRRANBANDI". The Courier-mail. No. 339. Queensland, Australia. 28 September 1934. p. 23.
Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Country News". The Courier-mail. No. 771. Queensland, Australia. 18 February 1936. p. 5.
Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". Balonne Beacon. Vol. 32, no. 6. Queensland, Australia. 6 February 1936. p. 4.
Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Learned to run chasing emus". Truth. No. 1994. Queensland, Australia. 12 June 1938. p. 8.
Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Tom Dancey". Monument Australia.
Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.