Comet, Queensland

Comet is a historical rich rural town and locality in the Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, Comet had a population of 498 people.[1] Explore Comet's history along the Comet Tails and Walking Trails.

Comet
Queensland
Grazing land west of the town of Comet, 2013
Comet
Coordinates23.6041°S 148.5480°E / -23.6041; 148.5480
Population498 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density0.28347/km2 (0.7342/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4702
Area1,756.8 km2 (678.3 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Central Highlands Region
State electorate(s)Gregory
Federal Division(s)Flynn
Localities around Comet:
Wyuna Mackenzie River Blackwater
Emerald Comet Stewarton
Gindie Arcturus Togara

Geography

The town is located on the Capricorn Highway, 859 kilometres (534 mi) north west of the state capital, Brisbane.

The area around Comet supports cotton and grain production as well as cattle feedlots.[4]

History
Township, ~1878

Comet is the oldest town in the Emerald region, established at the confluence of the Comet River with the Nogoa River.[4] 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.[5][6] Comet is home to a "dig tree" established by Leichhardt to indicate to others where he had buried food and journals.[7]

Comet Post Office opened on 5 September 1877.[8]

On 19 March 1931 the town's name was changed from Cometville to Comet.[2]

At the 2006 census, Comet and the surrounding area had a population of 233.[9]

Education

Comet State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls on the Capricorn Highway (23.6061°S 148.5451°E / -23.6061; 148.5451 (Comet State School)).[10][11] 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).[12]

there are no secondary schools in Comet. the closest one being Emerald State High School, situated 41 kilometres (25 miles) west of Comet.

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Comet (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Comet – town in Central Highlands Region (entry 7828)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  3. "Comet – locality in Central Highlands Region (entry 46938)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  4. "Townships". Emerald Shire Council. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2007.
  5. 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.
  6. Bond, G. P. (1850). "On the great comet of 1844-45". Astronomical Journal. 1 (13): 97–103.
  7. "Comet". Central Queensland. Tourism Queensland. Retrieved 23 October 2007.
  8. Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  9. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Comet (Emerald Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  10. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  11. "Comet State School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  12. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.


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