The town is located on the Capricorn Highway, 859 kilometres (534 mi) north west of the state capital, Brisbane.
The Central Western railway line enters the locality from the east (Blackwater / Stewarton), passes through the town, and exits to the west (Emerald).[5] No passenger services stop at the local stations, which, with the exception of that at Yamala, whose use is being expanded as the CQ Inland Port, are all disused:
The area around Comet supports cotton and grain production as well as cattle, both grazing and in feedlots.[4]
History
Township, circa 1878
Originally called Cometville, the town takes its name from the Comet River, named by explorer Ludwig Leichhardt, who made observations of Comet Wilmot (C/1844 Y2) in the area on 29 December 1844.[12][13]
Cometville State School opened on 23 October 1877. In 1912, it was renamed Comet State School in 1912.[15]
On 19 March 1931, the town's name was changed from Cometville to Comet.[2]
Demographics
In the 2006 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 233 people.[16]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 498 people.[17]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Comet had a population of 360 people.[1]
Education
Comet State School, 2021
Comet State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls off the Capricorn Highway (23°36′22″S148°32′42″E / 23.6061°S 148.5451°E / -23.6061; 148.5451 (Comet State School)).[18] 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).[19] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 25 students with 5 teachers (3 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[20]
There are no secondary schools in Comet. The closest government secondary school is Emerald State High School in neighbouring Emerald, situated 41 kilometres (25 miles) west of Comet.[5]
Attractions
Leichhardt Tree with the impression L 23 degree 57, Comet River, 1927
Comet is home to the Leichhardt Tree, a "dig tree" established by Ludwig Leichhardt to indicate to others where he had buried food and journals.[21]
Comet Free Library 2021
There is a walking trail through the town visiting points of historic interest.[22]
^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.