Comet, Queensland

Geography

Comet is the oldest town in the Emerald area, established at the confluence of the Comet River with the Nogoa River.

The town is located on the Capricorn Highway, 859 km 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). 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 not in use:

• Yamala railway station ()
• Comet railway station, ()
• Tolmies railway station ()
• Burngrove railway station ()

Ensham railway station () 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.

The locality has a number of neighbourhoods (from north to south):

• Yamala ()
• Leichhardt Tree ()
• Junction () Mount Crocker is a mountain () in the east of the locality, rising to 248 m above sea level.

The area around Comet supports cotton and grain production as well as cattle, both grazing and in feedlots.

History

Comet Post Office opened on 5 September 1877.

Cometville State School opened on 23 October 1877. In 1912, it was renamed Comet State School in 1912.

On 19 March 1931, the town's name was changed from Cometville to Comet.

Demographics

In the , the locality of Comet had a population of 233 people.{{Census 2006 AUS

In the , the locality of Comet had a population of 498 people.

In the , the locality of Comet had a population of 360 people.

Education

Comet State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls off the Capricorn Highway (). 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). 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).

There are no secondary schools in Comet. The nearest government secondary school is Emerald State High School in neighbouring Emerald, situated 41 kilometres (25 miles) west of Comet.

Attractions

There is a walking trail through the town visiting points of historic interest.

References

References

1. {{cite QPN. 7828. Comet. town in Central Highlands Region
2. {{cite QPN. 46938. Comet. locality in Central Highlands Region
3. "Townships". Emerald Shire Council.
4. (2 October 2020). "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". [[Queensland Government]].
5. {{cite QPN. 38379. Yamala. locality unbounded in Central Highlands Regional
6. {{cite QPN. 19179. Leichhardt Tree. locality unbounded in Central Highlands Regional
7. {{cite QPN. 17465. Junction. locality unbounded in Central Highlands Regional
8. (12 November 2020). "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". [[Queensland Government]].
9. {{cite QPN. 8764. Mount Crocker. mountain in Central Highlands Regional
10. Bond, G. P.. (1850). "On the great comet of 1844-45". [[Astronomical Journal]].
11. Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions.
12. "Queensland schools past and present". [[Queensland Family History Society]].
13. {{Census 2016 AUS
14. {{Census 2021 AUS
15. (9 July 2018). "State and non-state school details". [[Queensland Government]].
16. "ACARA School Profile 2017".
17. "ACARA School Profile 2018". [[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]].
18. {{Queensland Globe
19. "Comet". [[Tourism Queensland]].
20. "Comet".