Comet Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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![]() Grazing land west of the town of Comet, 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 23°36′15″S 148°32′53″E / 23.6041°S 148.5480°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 360 ( 2021 census) [1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 0.2049/km2 (0.531/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4702 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 1,756.8 km2 (678.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST ( UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
Location |
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LGA(s) | Central Highlands Region | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Gregory | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Flynn | ||||||||||||||
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Comet is a historically-rich rural town and locality in the Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia. [2] [3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 360 people. [1]
Comet is the oldest town in the Emerald area, established at the confluence of the Comet River with the Nogoa River. [4]
The town is located on the Capricorn Highway, 859 kilometres (534 mi) north west of the state capital, Brisbane.
The Central Western railway line enters the locality from the east ( Blackwater / Stewarton), passes through the town, and exits to the west (Emerald). [5] No passenger services stop at the local stations, which, with the exception of that at Yamala, whose use is being expanded as the CQ Inland Port, are all disused:
Ensham railway station ( 23°27′59″S 148°31′42″E / 23.4664°S 148.5282°E) is in the north of the locality on the Blackwater railway system. It provides rail services to the Ensham coal mines operated by Idemitsu Australia. [6] [5]
The locality has a number of neighbourhoods (from north to south):
Mount Crocker is a mountain ( 23°35′17″S 148°38′21″E / 23.5880°S 148.6391°E) in the east of the locality, rising to 248 metres (814 ft) above sea level. [10] [11]
The area around Comet supports cotton and grain production as well as cattle, both grazing and in feedlots. [4]
Originally called Cometville, the town takes its name from the Comet River, named by explorer Ludwig Leichhardt, who made observations of Comet Wilmot (C/1844 Y2) in the area on 29 December 1844. [12] [13]
Comet Post Office opened on 5 September 1877. [14]
Cometville State School opened on 23 October 1877. In 1912, it was renamed Comet State School in 1912. [15]
On 19 March 1931, the town's name was changed from Cometville to Comet. [2]
In the 2006 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 233 people. [16]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 498 people. [17]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 360 people. [1]
Comet State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls off the Capricorn Highway ( 23°36′22″S 148°32′42″E / 23.6061°S 148.5451°E). [18] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 28 students with 5 teachers (3 full-time equivalent) and 4 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent). [19] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 25 students with 5 teachers (3 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent). [20]
There are no secondary schools in Comet. The closest government secondary school is Emerald State High School in neighbouring Emerald, situated 41 kilometres (25 miles) west of Comet. [5]
Comet is home to the Leichhardt Tree, a "dig tree" established by Ludwig Leichhardt to indicate to others where he had buried food and journals. [21]
There is a walking trail through the town visiting points of historic interest. [22]