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Spirit
of the Land mural
(on
State Farm Road, Biloela)
A
combination of two styles of artwork have been created in this unique
mural. The mural tells of stories connecting two cultures from
Indigenous beginnings to 1928 in the
Callide
Valley.
In 1928 Biloela was gazetted as a town. The 15 interpretive signs tell stories of real people who left their
country of birth, compromised, pioneered and adapted to the Australian
way of life.
The
indigenous section shows aboriginal life before European settlement.
We have much to learn from them in caring for our land for future
generations to enjoy.
People
from different countries were immigrating to our area and blending into
the community bringing their culture and adapting to the Australian way
of life. There are also stories about ‘closer settlement’
after World War I in our area when the population grew.
The
name of the mural and the names on the park benches were selected from a
naming competition held in our community.
You
will see and read how our pioneers and Indigenous people formed
friendships, endured loneliness and heartbreak together, to build and
create the communities we enjoy today.
Members
of our community were given the opportunity to place their hand prints
on the mural on ‘opening day’. By placing their hand print on
the mural they not only left their mark in history, they showed the
unity within our wonderful community.
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A
Timeline
1851
Explorer Charles Archer entered the Callide Valley
1861
The first white child born in the Valley
1902 Last wagon of wool leaves
1923 Closer settlement opened up in
the area
1925
Over 40,000 acres were planted with cotton
1926
The Railway built a goods shed and house for the station mistress
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Population
The Census of 1856 shows the population from Taroom
to Gracemere was 264 males and 64 females with over 100 stations in its
40,000 square miles!
The
current
population of the Banana Shire is: 15, 626. The Banana Shire
includes the towns and villages of: Biloela, Moura, Theodore,
Thangool, Baralaba, Goovigen, Banana, Wowan, Dululu, Cracow, Jambin and
Taroom.
Biloela's population today is:
5,752.
Moura's population is currently: 2,000.
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