Brandon, Queensland

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 , the town of Brandon had a population of 783 people.

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

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

In the , 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

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 () and the Pioneer Sugar Mill in the west of the locality on Pioneer Mill Road ().

Education

Brandon State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls on Drysdale Street (). 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 on Lilliesmere Road (). 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.

References

References

1. {{cite QPN. 4348. Brandon. town in Shire of Burdekin
2. {{cite QPN. 44667. Brandon. locality in Shire of Burdekin
3. (1 September 1948). "BURDEKIN RICHEST GEM OF THE NORTH". [[Townsville Daily Bulletin]].
4. "Brandon". Centre for the Government of Queensland.
5. "Korah Halcomb Wills".
6. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions.
7. (21 August 1883). "INTERCOLONIAL.". [[The Brisbane Courier]].
8. "Queensland schools past and present". [[Queensland Family History Society]].
9. {{Census 2006 AUS
10. {{Census 2011 AUS
11. {{Census 2016 AUS
12. {{Census 2021 AUS
13. {{cite QHR. 15147. St Patrick's Catholic Church (former). 600372
14. "Wilmar Sugar Mills - Our Mills".
15. (9 July 2018). "State and non-state school details". [[Queensland Government]].
16. "Brandon State School".
17. "ACARA School Profile 2017".
18. "Kalamia State School".
19. {{Queensland Globe
20. "Pioneer Park Speedway".
21. "Pioneer Park Speedway, Ayr".
22. "World Championship".
23. "World Championship".
24. "HISTORYCZNE ZESTAWIENIE WYNIKÓW 1929-2023".