At 930 metres (3,050 ft) above sea level, Ravenshoe is the highest town in Queensland, with Queensland's highest pub[5] "The Ravenshoe Hotel" (formerly the "Tully Falls Hotel" until 2014[6]) and highest railway station. It also has the Millstream Falls, the widest waterfall in Australia. Traditionally the main industry in Ravenshoe was timber, but since 1987, when the government made 900,000 hectares (2,200,000 acres) of surrounding rainforest world heritage listed, the main industries have been tourism, beef and dairy farming.[7][8]
History
The traditional owners of the land in the Ravenshoe district are the Jirrbal people who speak a dialect of the Dyirbal language.[9]
The site of the present day Ravenshoe was first settled by pastoralists prior to 1881 but when stands of red cedar (Toona ciliata) trees were found at nearby Cedar Creek, the mining entrepreneur, John Moffat purchased the pastoral properties in 1897. A village called Cedar Creek was established. By 1910, the nearby mining town of Herberton has been connected by railway to Cairns and Cedar Creek had been renamed Ravenshoe. The name is supposed to have been chosen because a copy of Henry Kingsley's novel Ravenshoe was found discarded nearby.[7][3]
Ravenshoe State School opened on 5 February 1912. It expanded to offer secondary schooling on 3 February 1958.[10][11]
On Sunday 25 July 1937, the foundation stone was laid for St Barnabas Anglican Church by BishopJohn Feetham. It was named St Barnabas after the Bush Brotherhood of St Barnabas, who had served in North Queensland.[25] On Sunday 14 November 1937, Feetham returned to officially open and dedicate the church.[26] It was built from timber.[27]
On Sunday 6 June 1937, St Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church was officially opened and blessed by BishopJohn Heavey. It was 40 by 22 feet (12.2 by 6.7 m) and built from timber.[28] In the 1970s, it was relocated to enable the construction of a new church building, which was made from concrete blocks.[29][30] The old church building was then used as a school building.[31]
The Ravenshoe Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns was established in 1949.[33]
St Teresa's Catholic School was established in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy. The single-room school building was the former Catholic Church at Irvinebank which was relocated to Ravenshoe. On opening there were 60 children enrolled from Years 1 through 7. In 1978 the Sisters of Mercy ended their role in the school, being replaced by lay teachers.[10][34]
A Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses was built in 1990.[40]
The Ravenshoe Library opened in 1992 and had a major refurbishment in 2017.[41]
Ravenshoe became national news after a vehicle ran into a gas cylinder at the Grigg Street 'Serves You Right Cafe' on 9 June 2015. In the resulting explosion and fire 20 people were hospitalised, 8 critically injured. Two people, the manager of the cafe and an 82-year-old Silver Valley resident, later died from their burns.[42] As of 16 June 2015[update] there were still 7 people listed as critical with burn injuries. Five of them were females aged 43, 51, 59 and 75, and three males aged 56, 59 and 69. All were treated in Brisbane, while the driver of the vehicle that caused the explosion, with a broken spine and burns, was also listed as critical and treated in Cairns.[43]
Demographics
In the 2011 census, the locality of Ravenshoe had a population of 1,442 people,[44] while the town of Ravenshoe had a population of 860 people.[45]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Ravenshoe had a population of 1,400 people.[46]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Ravenshoe had a population of 1,332 people.[1]
St Teresa's School is a Catholic primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 6 Moffatt Street (17°36′41″S145°29′13″E / 17.6113°S 145.4870°E / -17.6113; 145.4870 (St Teresa's School)).[47][52] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 103 students with 12 teachers (9 full-time equivalent) and 10 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent).[50] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 94 students with 11 teachers (9 full-time equivalent) and 9 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).[50]
Amenities
Ravenshoe has a butcher, bakery, supermarkets, two cafes, several craft shop, a post office, a medical centre, a newsagency, a chemist, a hardware store, two pubs, two tyre shops, two salons, four fuel outlets, two caravan parks, a laundromat, bank branches, two real estate agencies and three schools and a community kindergarten.[53]
The Ravenshoe Millstream Country Club has a 9-hole golf course which is claimed to be the highest golf club in Queensland. Camping and caravan accommodation are available on site, for casual golfers.[54]
The Tablelands Regional Council operate a public library at 24 Moore Street.[55]
Ravenshoe is located close to waterfalls, crater lakes, swamps, water holes, rainforests and historical landmarks. There is also a diverse variety of plants and animals, including 12 species of possum, 8 species of kangaroo and abundant bird life.[9] In 2005, Malaan National Park was declared over forests which were previously known as Dirran State Forest.[61]
From time to time, a steam train runs between Ravenshoe and the nearby town of Tumoulin, carrying locals and tourists to and from the local markets.[63]
Other attractions
Ravenshoe has a number of galleries and creative industries, reflecting the nature of the locals. The Windy Hill Wind Farm owned by Queensland Government's Transfield Services Infrastructure Fund (together with the Koombooloomba hydroelectric dam) generates enough electricity to power several towns.[citation needed]
^"Methodist Church". Cairns Post. Vol. XXXIII, no. 3685. Queensland, Australia. 5 June 1920. p. 3. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^Blake, Thom. "Ravenshoe Methodist Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
^"CHILVERTON METHODIST CHURCH". Cairns Post. No. 8542. Queensland, Australia. 11 June 1929. p. 10. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"RAVENSHOE ANGLICAN CHURCH". Cairns Post. No. 11, 065. Queensland, Australia. 30 July 1937. p. 14. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"RAVENSHOE ANGLICAN CHURCH". Cairns Post. No. 11, 162. Queensland, Australia. 20 November 1937. p. 10. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^ abBlake, Thom. "St Barnabas Anglican Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
^"IMPRESSIVE OPENING". Cairns Post. No. 11, 024. Queensland, Australia. 12 June 1937. p. 12. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"History of the School". St Teresa's Primary School, Ravenshoe. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
^"NEW SCHOOL". Daily Mercury. Vol. 86, no. 158. Queensland, Australia. 3 July 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 6 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"NEW SCHOOL FOR RAVENSHOE". Cairns Post. No. 15, 779. Queensland, Australia. 4 October 1952. p. 6. Retrieved 6 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^Dungey, Kym; Whytlaw, Jane (2007). Tropical walking tracks of North Queensland. Kuranda, Qld.: Footloose Publications. pp. 84–146. ISBN978-1-876617-14-1.