Biloela is a rural town in Central Queensland, Australia. It is situated inland from the port city of Gladstone at the junction of the Burnett and Dawson highways. At the 2011 census, Biloela had a population of 5,808. Biloela is the administrative centre for the Banana Shire, which has an area of 15,729 square kilometres (6,073 sq mi).
Etymology
Biloela is generally believed to be Aboriginal for 'black or white cockatoo' (the Government dockyards were known as Biloela during 1870–1913 in an endeavour to remove the perceived stigma of the prior Cockatoo Island convict establishment).
History
The town was gazetted in 1924. The first open-cut mine was established in 1942. In 1963, work began on the Callide Power Station.
Heritage listings
Biloela has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- 48 Gladstone Road: Greycliffe Homestead
Climate
Biloela has a warm subtropical climate, with hot to warm temperatures all year round. Winter nights can occasionally drop below freezing, however winters are usually warm and dry, with pleasant sunny days. Summers are hot and humid, with most rain falling with occasional thunderstorms. Record temperatures have ranged from 43.1 °C (109.6 °F) to. The wettest 24 hour rainfall was 199.6 millimetres (7.86 in) on the 31 of January 1978.
Industry
Biloela and the Banana Shire, dubbed by the council as 'The Shire of Opportunity', has a diverse range of industries. Extensive grazing and cropping concerns are found in the area. Cotton, sorghum and wheat are grown in the area. The Callide Power Stations lie just north of the town. Coal was discovered on Callide Creek in 1891 and is now mined at the nearby Callide and Boundary Hill mines which supply the power station. The third largest abattoir in Queensland is situated in the town.
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