Banana

History

Gangalu (Gangulu, Kangulu, Kanolu, Kaangooloo, Khangulu) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Gangula country. The Gangula language region includes the towns of Clermont and Springsure extending south towards the Dawson River. In 1853, James, Norman and Charles Leith-Hay established the Rannes pastoral lease and Banana was an outstation of this property. Banana became its own squatting leasehold sheep station property in 1855 with the Leith-Hays and Thomas Holt holding the licence. In 1855 a group of Aboriginal people attacked Banana Station wounding five people and stealing 3,000 sheep. In April 1858, a number of Aboriginal people in an unprovoked attack, murdered 4 men at Camboon and had stolen a carbine, gunpowder and balls, and some axes. They then proceeded to attack the sheep station at Banana resulting in three shepherds being wounded. While the shepherds were defending themselves, an Aboriginal man was killed. Native Police troopers were deployed to patrol the area and a 1859 map shows a police station marked on the planned site for Banana. The name Banana derives from an old dun-coloured working bullock, called Banana, used by local stockmen to help them when herding some of the wilder cattle into the yards. The post office at Banana was established on 1 September 1861, and the first township allotments were offered for sale in that same year. In 1887, there was a minor gold rush at Banana, increasing the population by a few hundred people. Banana Provisional School opened on 18 September 1871 and was upgraded to Banana State School on 16 February 1874. The school closed in 1935, but reopened on 25 January 1960. In 1880, the local government area Banana Division (later the Shire of Banana) was established with its headquarters in Banana (taking…

Geography

Banana is located at the intersection of the Dawson and Leichhardt highways, west of the shire's administrative centre, Biloela.

Most-observed species

• Torresian Crow

  Corvus orru Bonaparte, 1850 · Aves
  40
• Ranoidea caerulea (White, 1790)

  Ranoidea caerulea (White, 1790) · Amphibia
  31
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  30
• Galah

  Eolophus roseicapilla (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  26
• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  23
• Rainbow Lorikeet

  Trichoglossus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  22
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

  Cacatua galerita (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  22
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  20