Kaimkillenbun


Kaimkillenbun is a town and a locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.
It is recognised as the Queensland town with the longest single-word name, but is affectionately known by locals as "The Bun".

Geography

Kaimkillenbun is from Dalby, on the way to the Bunya Mountains and is part of the Darling Downs.
The south-eastern half of the locality is predominantly flat farming land centred on the township. The north-western half of the locality has hills including Squaretop, a mountain of over. Minerals including opals can be found at Squaretop.
The Bunya Highway passes through the north-west of the locality.

History

The name Kaimkillenbun is believed to derive from an Aboriginal word meaning open mouth, possibly associated with a male initiation ceremony.
The Bell Branch railway line from Dalby to Bell was opened in 1906 with Kaimkillenbun being served by railway stations at Kaimkillenbun and Squaretop. The line closed in 1984.
An attempt was made to establish a hotel in 1908 but the local temperance lobby managed to prevent it. However, in October 1911 local farmer Edwin Higgs successfully obtained a licence and built the Kenilworth Hotel. Soldiers leaving for World War 1 signed on the wall of the pub. Today it is known as The Bun Pub.
Kaimkillenbun Post Office opened by June 1909.
Kaimkillenbun State School opened on 1 November 1909.
St Mary's Anglican Church was dedicated on 6 September 1914 by Venerable Henry Le Fanu, Archdeacon of Toowoomba. It closed circa 1997.
The Kaimkillenbun war memorial was unveiled on 13 November 1920 by William Vowles, the member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Dalby and Leader of the Opposition. The "digger" statue was made by R C Ziegler, a Toowoomba stonemason. Originally placed near the Kaimkillenbun railway station, the memorial was damaged in a traffic accident. A replacement from the original plans was commissioned from the Zieglers and was placed in a park behind the hotel.
In 1983, Kaimkillenbun was the location for filming of the movie Chase Through the Night starring Nicole Kidman. Local residents appear as extras in the film.
At the 2011 census, Kaimkillenbun and the surrounding area had a population of 566.

Facilities

Facilities in the town include the historic Bun Pub and a number of sporting clubs and organisations.
Kaimkillenbun State School is a government co-educational primary school in Messenger Street. In 2015, it had an enrolment of 33 students with 4 teachers and 6 non-teaching staff.

Notable residents