Ravenshoe, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids RavenshoeQueensland |
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Ravenshoe Town Hall
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 Ravenshoe
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 1,332 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 9.583/km2 (24.82/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4888 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 930 m (3,051 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 139.0 km2 (53.7 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Tablelands Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Hill | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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Ravenshoe is a rural town and area in the Tablelands Region of Queensland, Australia. It's known for being the highest town in Queensland. In 2021, about 1,332 people lived in the Ravenshoe area.
Contents
Exploring Ravenshoe's Geography
Ravenshoe is located on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland. It sits about 123 kilometers (76 miles) southwest of Cairns, a major city in the region.
High Points of Ravenshoe
At 930 meters (3,050 feet) above sea level, Ravenshoe holds the title of Queensland's highest town. This means it also has Queensland's highest pub, "The Ravenshoe Hotel," and its highest railway station. You can also find the Millstream Falls nearby, which is the widest waterfall in Australia!
Local Industries and Nature
For a long time, the main industry in Ravenshoe was timber. However, since 1987, a large area of the surrounding rainforest became a World Heritage Site. This means it's protected for its natural beauty and importance. Now, the main jobs in Ravenshoe are in tourism, beef farming, and dairy farming.
Ravenshoe's Past: A Look at History
The traditional owners of the land around Ravenshoe are the Jirrbal people. They speak a dialect of the Dyirbal language.
How Ravenshoe Got Its Name
The area where Ravenshoe now stands was first settled by farmers before 1881. Later, valuable red cedar trees were discovered nearby. A businessman named John Moffat bought the land in 1897, and a small village called Cedar Creek was created. By 1910, the village was renamed Ravenshoe. The story goes that the name came from a novel called Ravenshoe by Henry Kingsley, which was found discarded nearby.
Early Schools and Growth
Ravenshoe State School opened its doors on February 5, 1912. It later grew to include secondary schooling in 1958, meaning it teaches students from primary all the way through high school. By 1912, Ravenshoe was a growing town with a store, a school, a hotel, and about 1,000 people. The timber industry was booming, supplying different types of wood like Queensland maple and black walnut.
Connecting by Rail and Road
On December 11, 1916, Ravenshoe finally got a railway connection to Cairns. This made it much easier to transport goods and people. By 1936, roads also connected Ravenshoe to other towns like Atherton and Innisfail.
Community Buildings and World War II
The first church in Ravenshoe, the Methodist Church, opened in 1920. Later, the Anglican and Catholic churches were also built, showing the growing community. During World War II, the Australian Army set up large tent camps near Ravenshoe as part of the Atherton Project. By 1949, Ravenshoe had several sawmills, hotels, cinemas, and churches.
School Development
St Teresa's Catholic School was started in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy. The first school building was actually an old church moved from another town! St Barnabas' School, which aimed to teach agricultural subjects, was established in 1953. This school later became part of Ravenshoe State School's secondary campus.
Modern Times and a Community Event
The railway service to Ravenshoe closed in 1988 after the surrounding rainforest became a World Heritage Site. The Ravenshoe Library opened in 1992 and was updated in 2017. In 2015, a serious incident occurred at a local cafe, which deeply affected the community. Many people were injured, and the town showed great strength and support for each other during this difficult time.
Who Lives in Ravenshoe?
The number of people living in Ravenshoe has changed over the years. In 2011, the Ravenshoe area had about 1,442 people. By 2016, this number was around 1,400, and in 2021, it was 1,332 people.
Learning in Ravenshoe: Education
Ravenshoe has two main schools for its young people.
Ravenshoe State School
Ravenshoe State School is a government school that teaches students from Prep (the first year of school) all the way through Year 12 (the last year of high school). It has two campuses: a primary campus for younger students and a secondary campus for older students. The school also offers a special education program.
St Teresa's School
St Teresa's School is a Catholic primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It provides a Catholic education for children in the community.
What Ravenshoe Offers: Amenities
Ravenshoe has many useful shops and services for its residents. You can find a butcher, bakery, supermarkets, cafes, craft shops, a post office, a medical center, a newsagency, a chemist, and hardware stores. There are also pubs, tyre shops, salons, fuel stations, caravan parks, a laundromat, banks, real estate agencies, and a community kindergarten.
Sports and Recreation
The Ravenshoe Millstream Country Club has a 9-hole golf course. It's said to be the highest golf club in Queensland! You can also camp or park your caravan there if you want to play golf.
Community Services
The Tablelands Regional Council runs a public library at 24 Moore Street. The Ravenshoe branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association also meets in town, providing support and activities for women in the community. Ravenshoe also has several churches, including St Teresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church, St Barnabas Anglican Church, Ravenshoe Seventh Day Adventist Church, and a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Fun Things to Do: Attractions
Natural Wonders
Ravenshoe is surrounded by amazing natural beauty. You can explore waterfalls, unique crater lakes, swamps, and beautiful rainforests. The area is home to many different plants and animals, including various types of possums, kangaroos, and lots of birds. Malaan National Park is a protected area of forest nearby.
Bushwalking Adventures
If you love walking, the Misty Mountain Wilderness trails offer a huge network of paths through Tully Gorge National Park and Wooroonooran National Park. There are also easier walks to the Millstream Falls and Little Millstream Falls.
Riding the Steam Train
Sometimes, a special steam train runs between Ravenshoe and the nearby town of Tumoulin. It's a fun way for locals and tourists to travel and visit the local markets.
Other Cool Places to See
Ravenshoe has several art galleries and creative businesses, showing the artistic side of the people who live there. You can also see the Windy Hill Wind Farm nearby. This wind farm, along with the Koombooloomba hydroelectric dam, creates enough electricity to power several towns!
Images for kids
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Ravenshoe Town Hall
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Lumber yard at a Ravenshoe sawmill, 1934
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Windy Hill Wind Farm near Ravenshoe
