Ballandean, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BallandeanQueensland |
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Ballandean railway station with the big dinosaur, 2015
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 Ballandean
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 316 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 1.5832/km2 (4.100/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4382 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 721 m (2,365 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 199.6 km2 (77.1 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Southern Downs Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Southern Downs | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Maranoa | ||||||||||||||
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Ballandean is a small country town in the Southern Downs Region of Queensland, Australia. It's known for its many vineyards, which bring visitors to the area. In 2021, about 316 people lived in Ballandean.
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Where is Ballandean?
Ballandean is located in a rural area. The Severn River forms part of its northern border. Several creeks, like Kelvin Grove Creek and Washpool Creek, flow through Ballandean and into the Severn River.
The New England Highway runs through the town from north to south. It follows closely beside the Southern railway line. The main part of Ballandean town is built around the old Ballandean railway station. This station is now closed for passenger trains. Most of the land around the town is used for farming.
What is Apple Vale?
Apple Vale is a small area or neighbourhood in the northern part of Ballandean.
A Look Back: Ballandean's History
The name Ballandean comes from a large farming property established in 1841. It was named by Henry Hayter Nicol, who might have thought of Ballindean House in Scotland, where he grew up.
The town was officially surveyed and named in 1872. That same year, a man named Thomas Henry Fletcher built the Britannia Inn, a hotel. This hotel helped bring other businesses to the area. Fletcher also started the first commercial fruit orchard in the Granite Belt region.
The Ballandean Post Office opened on January 1, 1873.
Early Schools in Ballandean
Ballandean State School first opened its doors on January 18, 1909. Frances Emily Wallace was its first head teacher.
Another school, Apple Vale State School, opened on February 19, 1914. Somme State School also opened around 1917. For a few years, Apple Vale and Somme schools shared one teacher. Both schools closed in August 1927.
St Oswald's Anglican Church
St Oswald's Anglican Church was officially opened on March 1, 1926. While the church is now closed, the building can still be seen at 12 Bents Road.
Ballandean Today
In 2016, Ballandean had a population of 338 people. By 2021, the population was 316 people.
Important Old Places
Ballandean has some places that are listed as important heritage sites. One of these is the Ballandean Homestead, located about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) southwest of the town.
Learning in Ballandean
Ballandean State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located on Bent's Road. In 2018, the school had 40 students and 5 teachers.
Fun Things to See
The Ballandean Pyramid
The Ballandean Pyramid is a unique sight in Queensland. It's a man-made pyramid built by Ken Stubberfield. He made it to get rid of extra granite rocks from his farm.
The Big Dinosaur
The Ballandean railway station is easy to spot because of a huge dinosaur statue in front of it! This dinosaur is nicknamed the Fruitisforus (which sounds like "Fruit-is-for-us"). It was first built for a parade in 1998. After the parade, the community put it in front of the station to encourage people driving by to stop and buy fruit to help raise money. It became so popular that it was made stronger with fibreglass and painted, becoming a permanent roadside attraction. The dinosaur is about 6.7 metres (22 feet) long and 2.1 metres (6.9 feet) high.
