Dirranbandi

History

Yuwaalaraay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalaraay country. The Yuwaalaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Hebel extending to Walgett and Collarenebri in New South Wales. Yuwaalayaay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalayaay country. It is closely related to the Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay languages. The Yuwaalayaay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Goodooga extending to Walgett and the Narran Lakes in New South Wales. Gamilaraay (also known as Gamilaroi, Kamilaroi, Comilroy) is an Aboriginal language from south-west Queensland and north-west New South Wales. The Gamilaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Balonne Shire Council, including the towns of Dirranbandi, Thallon, Talwood and Bungunya as well as the border towns of Mungindi and Boomi extending to Moree, Tamworth and Coonabarabran in NSW. The town reserve was surveyed in March 1885 by surveyor Claudius Buchanan Whish. He is believed to have named the town using an Aboriginal word, meaning either broken forest country or chorus of frogs at night. The name may be derived from a Yuwaaliyaay dialect placename, Dhurrunbandaay, relating to dhurrun.gal ("hairy caterpillars") and baanda-y ("move in single file"). One hundred housing allotments were first set aside, followed by land for a police…

Geography

Dirranbandi is on the Castlereagh Highway and the Balonne River. It is notable for the population variations each year as seasonal workers come to work on the extensive cotton fields. Due to the low annual rainfall, irrigation is used extensively.

Most-observed species

• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  53
• Welcome Swallow

  Hirundo neoxena Gould, 1842 · Aves
  42
• Yellow-throated Miner

  Manorina flavigula (Gould, 1840) · Aves
  40
• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  39
• Red-rumped Parrot

  Psephotus haematonotus (Gould, 1838) · Aves
  31
• White-plumed Honeyeater

  Ptilotula penicillata (Gould, 1837) · Aves
  31
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  28
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  27

Most recent

• M 3.6 — 2005-12-28
  75 km WSW of St George, Australia
• M 2.8 — 2005-07-30
  66 km S of St George, Australia
• M 3 — 2002-08-22
  67 km SE of St George, Australia
• M 2.9 — 2001-12-06
  86 km SSE of St George, Australia