Brandon, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brandon Queensland
Brandon Location in Queensland
Population	1,088 (2021 census)
• Density	9.846/km2 (25.50/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4808
Area	110.5 km2 (42.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	6.4 km (4 mi) WNW of Ayr 82.1 km (51 mi) ESE of Townsville 1,323 km (822 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Burdekin
State electorate(s)	Burdekin
Federal Division(s)	Dawson
Localities around Brandon: Barratta Colevale Alva Barratta Brandon Ayr Barratta Airville McDesme

Brandon is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Brandon had a population of 1,088 people.

History

Brandon was surveyed as a site for a township in 1882 and the first allotments were sold later that year. The town is named after Henry Brandon a sugar pioneer in the Mackay and Lower Burdekin regions. Henry Brandon was also the son-in-law of the colonist, Korah Halcomb Wills.

Brandon Post Office opened on 6 September 1883. 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.

Brandon Provisional School opened in the town on 9 April 1888. It became Brandon State School on 11 July 1898.

Kalamia State School opened beside the Kalamia Sugar Mill on 18 July 1928.

Demographics

In the 2006 census, the town of Brandon had a population of 783 people.

In the 2011 census, the locality of Brandon had a population of 1,267 people.

In the 2016 census, the locality of Brandon had a population of 1,094 people.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Brandon had a population of 1,088 people.

Heritage listings

Brandon has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• St Patrick's Catholic Church, 27 Spiller Street

Economy

Kalamia Sugar Mill, 1901

Pioneer Mill tramway operations workers with locomotive McDesme

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 / -19.5229; 147.4163 (Kalamia Sugar Mill)) 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 / -19.5583; 147.3309 (Pioneer Sugar Mill)).

Education

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 / -19.5537; 147.3485 (Brandon State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 45 students with 4 teachers and 6 non-teaching staff (4 full-time equivalent).

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 / -19.5185; 147.4176 (Kalamia State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 14 students with 1 teacher and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).

There are no secondary schools in Brandon. The nearest government secondary school is Ayr State High School in neighbouring Ayr to the east.

Sport

Pioneer Park Speedway is a motorcycle speedway venue to the south west on Bruce Highway. The track has been a significant venue for important speedway events, including qualifying rounds of the Speedway World Championship and the final of the Australian Solo Championship.