| Comet Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Grazing land west of the town of Comet, 2013 | |||||||||||||||
  Comet | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 23°36′15″S 148°32′53″E / 23.6041°S 148.5480°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 360 ( 2021 census) [1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.2049/km2 (0.531/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4702 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 1,756.8 km2 (678.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST ( UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
| ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Central Highlands Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Gregory | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Flynn | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Comet is a historically-rich rural town and locality in the Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia. [2] [3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 360 people. [1]
Comet is the oldest town in the Emerald area, established at the confluence of the Comet River with the Nogoa River. [4]
The town is located on the Capricorn Highway, 859 kilometres (534 mi) 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). [5] 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 all disused:
- Yamala railway station ( 23°34′49″S 148°22′19″E / 23.5804°S 148.3719°E) [6]
- Comet railway station, ( 23°36′20″S 148°32′51″E / 23.6055°S 148.5475°E) [6]
- Tolmies railway station ( 23°35′32″S 148°44′43″E / 23.5921°S 148.7452°E) [6]
- Burngrove railway station ( 23°35′27″S 148°45′20″E / 23.5907°S 148.7555°E) [6]
Ensham railway station ( 23°27′59″S 148°31′42″E / 23.4664°S 148.5282°E) 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. [6] [5]
The locality has a number of neighbourhoods (from north to south):
- Yamala ( 23°33′00″S 148°22′00″E / 23.55°S 148.3666°E) [7]
- Leichhardt Tree ( 23°34′00″S 148°32′00″E / 23.5666°S 148.5333°E) [8]
- Junction ( 23°36′S 148°45′E / 23.6°S 148.75°E) [9]
Mount Crocker is a mountain ( 23°35′17″S 148°38′21″E / 23.5880°S 148.6391°E) in the east of the locality, rising to 248 metres (814 ft) above sea level. [10] [11]
The area around Comet supports cotton and grain production as well as cattle, both grazing and in feedlots. [4]
Originally called Cometville, the town takes its name from the Comet River, named by explorer Ludwig Leichhardt, who made observations of Comet Wilmot (C/1844 Y2) in the area on 29 December 1844. [12] [13]
Comet Post Office opened on 5 September 1877. [14]
Cometville State School opened on 23 October 1877. In 1912, it was renamed Comet State School in 1912. [15]
On 19 March 1931, the town's name was changed from Cometville to Comet. [2]
In the 2006 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 233 people. [16]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 498 people. [17]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 360 people. [1]
Comet State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls off the Capricorn Highway ( 23°36′22″S 148°32′42″E / 23.6061°S 148.5451°E). [18] 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). [19] 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). [20]
There are no secondary schools in Comet. The closest government secondary school is Emerald State High School in neighbouring Emerald, situated 41 kilometres (25 miles) west of Comet. [5]
Comet is home to the Leichhardt Tree, a "dig tree" established by Ludwig Leichhardt to indicate to others where he had buried food and journals. [21]
There is a walking trail through the town visiting points of historic interest. [22]
- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Comet (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Comet – town in Central Highlands Region (entry 7828)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Comet – locality in Central Highlands Region (entry 46938)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Townships". Emerald Shire Council. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2007.
- ^ a b c "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Yamala – locality unbounded in Central Highlands Regional (entry 38379)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Leichhardt Tree – locality unbounded in Central Highlands Regional (entry 19179)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Junction – locality unbounded in Central Highlands Regional (entry 17465)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Mount Crocker – mountain in Central Highlands Regional (entry 8764)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ John Dunmore Lang (1847). Cooksland in north-eastern Australia: the future cottonfield of Great Britain: its characteristics and capabilities for European colonization. With a disquisition on the origin, manners, and customs of the aborigines. Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans. p. 315.
- ^ Bond, G. P. (1850). "On the great comet of 1844-45". Astronomical Journal. 1 (13): 97–103. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
- ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Comet (Emerald Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Comet (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ "Comet". Central Queensland. Tourism Queensland. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2007.
- ^ "Comet". Central Highlands Queensland. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
| Comet Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grazing land west of the town of Comet, 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Comet | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 23°36′15″S 148°32′53″E / 23.6041°S 148.5480°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 360 ( 2021 census) [1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.2049/km2 (0.531/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4702 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 1,756.8 km2 (678.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST ( UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
| ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Central Highlands Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Gregory | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Flynn | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Comet is a historically-rich rural town and locality in the Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia. [2] [3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 360 people. [1]
Comet is the oldest town in the Emerald area, established at the confluence of the Comet River with the Nogoa River. [4]
The town is located on the Capricorn Highway, 859 kilometres (534 mi) 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). [5] 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 all disused:
- Yamala railway station ( 23°34′49″S 148°22′19″E / 23.5804°S 148.3719°E) [6]
- Comet railway station, ( 23°36′20″S 148°32′51″E / 23.6055°S 148.5475°E) [6]
- Tolmies railway station ( 23°35′32″S 148°44′43″E / 23.5921°S 148.7452°E) [6]
- Burngrove railway station ( 23°35′27″S 148°45′20″E / 23.5907°S 148.7555°E) [6]
Ensham railway station ( 23°27′59″S 148°31′42″E / 23.4664°S 148.5282°E) 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. [6] [5]
The locality has a number of neighbourhoods (from north to south):
- Yamala ( 23°33′00″S 148°22′00″E / 23.55°S 148.3666°E) [7]
- Leichhardt Tree ( 23°34′00″S 148°32′00″E / 23.5666°S 148.5333°E) [8]
- Junction ( 23°36′S 148°45′E / 23.6°S 148.75°E) [9]
Mount Crocker is a mountain ( 23°35′17″S 148°38′21″E / 23.5880°S 148.6391°E) in the east of the locality, rising to 248 metres (814 ft) above sea level. [10] [11]
The area around Comet supports cotton and grain production as well as cattle, both grazing and in feedlots. [4]
Originally called Cometville, the town takes its name from the Comet River, named by explorer Ludwig Leichhardt, who made observations of Comet Wilmot (C/1844 Y2) in the area on 29 December 1844. [12] [13]
Comet Post Office opened on 5 September 1877. [14]
Cometville State School opened on 23 October 1877. In 1912, it was renamed Comet State School in 1912. [15]
On 19 March 1931, the town's name was changed from Cometville to Comet. [2]
In the 2006 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 233 people. [16]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 498 people. [17]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 360 people. [1]
Comet State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls off the Capricorn Highway ( 23°36′22″S 148°32′42″E / 23.6061°S 148.5451°E). [18] 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). [19] 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). [20]
There are no secondary schools in Comet. The closest government secondary school is Emerald State High School in neighbouring Emerald, situated 41 kilometres (25 miles) west of Comet. [5]
Comet is home to the Leichhardt Tree, a "dig tree" established by Ludwig Leichhardt to indicate to others where he had buried food and journals. [21]
There is a walking trail through the town visiting points of historic interest. [22]
- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Comet (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Comet – town in Central Highlands Region (entry 7828)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Comet – locality in Central Highlands Region (entry 46938)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Townships". Emerald Shire Council. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2007.
- ^ a b c "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Yamala – locality unbounded in Central Highlands Regional (entry 38379)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Leichhardt Tree – locality unbounded in Central Highlands Regional (entry 19179)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Junction – locality unbounded in Central Highlands Regional (entry 17465)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Mount Crocker – mountain in Central Highlands Regional (entry 8764)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ John Dunmore Lang (1847). Cooksland in north-eastern Australia: the future cottonfield of Great Britain: its characteristics and capabilities for European colonization. With a disquisition on the origin, manners, and customs of the aborigines. Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans. p. 315.
- ^ Bond, G. P. (1850). "On the great comet of 1844-45". Astronomical Journal. 1 (13): 97–103. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
- ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Comet (Emerald Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Comet (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ "Comet". Central Queensland. Tourism Queensland. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2007.
- ^ "Comet". Central Highlands Queensland. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.