Biloela

Biloela is a rural town and locality in Shire of Banana, Central Queensland, Australia. It is situated 120km inland from the port city of Gladstone at the junction of the Burnett and Dawson highways. At the 2011 census, Biloela had a population of 5,808. Biloela is the administrative centre of Banana Shire, which has an area of 15729km2.EtymologyThe name Biloela is generally believed to be the Aboriginal word (possibly from the Sydney area) for black or white cockatoo. The Government dockyards in Sydney were known as Biloela during 1870–1913 in an endeavour to remove the perceived stigma of the prior Cockatoo Island convict establishment.HistoryThe town was gazetted in 1924; it was on the Rannes-Monto railway line. Land sales were held in Rannes in December 1924.Biloela Post Office opened by January 1925 and Biloela State School opened on 22 June 1925. The first open-cut mine was established in 1942.In 1963, work began on the Callide Power Station.The Biloela State High School opened on 29 January 1963.Heritage listingsBiloela has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: 48 Gladstone Road: Greycliffe Homestead