Miles
Postcode: 4415
Miles is a small town of approximately 1,400 residents in the state of Queensland, Australia. It is the largest town and headqurters of the Murilla Shire Local Government Area.
The town is situated on the Warrego Highway, 340 kilometres west of Brisbane, the state capital. Formerly known as Dogwood Crossing, the town is situated on Dogwood Creek, named by German explorer Ludwig Leichhardt in 1844. The town was renamed Miles in honour of the Queensland Colonial Secretary, William Miles.
Miles is located on the Western Downs, at an elevation of 304 m. The region around Miles has hot summers with mean maximum temperatures in January of 33.1° Celsius falling to 19.3 in July. Average rainfall is 655.7 mm, falling mainly in the period between November and February.
The economy of Miles is based mainly on agriculture and cropping, producing wheat, sorghum, barley and cotton. Timber production is another area of economic activity and in common with much of Western Queensland, cattle and sheep grazing, including feedlots is widespread.
In addition, a mining industry utilising rich deposits of bentonite clay is developing.