Dirranbandi is a town in South West Queensland, Australia, located in the Shire of Balonne. 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
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. 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. At the 2011 census, Dirranbandi had a population of 711.
The Culgoa Floodplain National Park lies 130 kilometres (81 mi) to the south-west. The town experienced serious flooding in February–March 2010 and January 2011.
Dirranbandi is located on the traditional lands of the Kooma people. However people in Dirranbandi recognise themselves as Kamilaroi.
Origin of name
Dirranbandi is said by some[by whom?] 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").
Facilities
Dirranbandi has a public library, civic centre, swimming pool, park and showground.
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.