Dirranbandi, Queensland

Dirranbandi is a town and locality in South West Queensland, Australia, located in the Shire of Balonne. At the 2011 census, Dirranbandi had a population of 711. It sits 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. Cubbie Station, the largest cotton producing property in the southern hemisphere, is close to Dirranbandi.

History
Dirranbandi is located on the traditional lands of the Kooma people. However people in Dirranbandi recognise themselves as Gamilaroi.

The town reserve was surveyed in 1885. One hundred housing allotments were first set aside, followed by land for a police station, a state school, and post office.

Dirranbandi Provisional School opened in 1902 but closed in April 1905. It reopened on 20 January 1908 and became Dirranbandi State School on 1 January 1909. On 29 January 1963, a secondary school to Year 10 was added.

The railway reached Dirranbandi on 22 May 1913. Dirranbandi had the honour of being the destination for the last mail train to operate in Australia.

The Culgoa Floodplain National Park lies 130 km to the south-west. The town experienced serious flooding in February–March 2010 and January 2011.

Origin of name
Dirranbandi is said by some to be an Aboriginal word meaning "swamp abounding in frogs and waterfowl". Although this is possible, there is no evidence in any of the region's languages to suggest that this is the case. The name may be derived from a Yuwaaliyaay dialect placename, Dhurrunbandaay, relating to dhurrun.gal ("hairy caterpillars") and baanda-y ("move in single file"). There is also a Yuwaalaraay noun, dhirrinbaa, meaning "bad weather camp, on high ground", possibly from dhirrin ("high ground") and -baa ("place of, time of").

Population
In the 2016 Census, there were 640 people in Dirranbandi. 79.9% of people were born in Australia and 85.2% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 29.3%, Anglican 26.5% No Religion 14.8%.

Facilities
Dirranbandi has a hospital, civic centre, swimming pool, park and showground.

Balonne Shire Council operates a library on the Castlereagh Highway inside the Rural Transaction Centre.

The Dirranbandi branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 22 Kirby Street.

Education
Dirranbandi State School is a co-educational government school (Prep-10) in Jane Street. In 2015, the school had 73 students with 12 teachers (11 full-time equivalent). The School was opened on 9 June 1902.

Popular culture
Australian author Robert G Barrett's main character Les Norton hails from Dirranbandi.

Slim Dusty sang about being the Dirranbandi Dandy in the song Cunnamulla Fella, which he co-wrote with Stan Coster.

Actor Ray Meagher grew up near Dirranbandi. He is best known for playing Alf Stewart on soap opera Home and Away, and credits one of his character's catchphrases "Stone the flamin' crows!" to a man who was a stock and station agent in town.