Comet, Queensland
| Comet Queensland | |
|---|---|
  Comet | |
| Coordinates | 23°36′0″S 148°32′0″E / 23.60000°S 148.53333°ECoordinates: 23°36′0″S 148°32′0″E / 23.60000°S 148.53333°E |
| Population | 233 (2006 census)[1] |
| Postcode(s) | 4702 |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Central Highlands Region |
| State electorate(s) | Gregory |
| Federal Division(s) | Flynn |
Comet is a town in the Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia. The town is located on the Capricorn Highway, 859 kilometres (534 mi) north west of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Comet and the surrounding area had a population of 233.[1]
History
Comet is the oldest town in the Emerald region, established at the confluence of the Comet River with the Nogoa River.[2] Originally called Cometville, the town takes its name from the river, named by explorer Ludwig Leichhardt who made observations of Comet Wilmot (C/1844 Y2) in the area on 29 December 1844.[3] Comet is home to a "dig tree" established by Leichhardt to indicate to others where he had buried food and journals.[4]
Comet Post Office opened on 5 September 1877.[5]
Today, the area around Comet supports cotton and grain production as well as cattle feedlots.[2]
References
- 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Comet (Emerald Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- 1 2 "Townships". Emerald Shire Council. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Comet". Central Queensland. Tourism Queensland. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
External links
- Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia at Project Gutenberg