Ravenswood, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids RavenswoodQueensland |
|||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Imperial Hotel at Ravenswood
|
|||||||||||||||
 Ravenswood
Location in Queensland
|
|||||||||||||||
| Population | 255 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.08441/km2 (0.2186/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4816 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 3,020.8 km2 (1,166.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
|
||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Charters Towers Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Traeger | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
Ravenswood is a rural town and locality in the Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Ravenswood had a population of 255 people.
It is historically and currently a gold mining town.
Contents
History
After the discovery of gold in 1868 through to the early 1900s, the township flourished and grew to nearly 5000 residents and boasted 48 hotels. Several historic buildings remain from this period. Due to an industrial strike in 1912 and subsequently World War I, by 1915 mining declined and the town was deserted.
From 1879 to 1930, Ravenswood was the administrative centre for local government, initially of Ravenswood Division (1879–1903) and later of the Shire of Ravenswood (1903–1930). However, with the decline in Ravenwood's population, it was no longer financially viable to have a separate local government authority, and the Shire of Ravenswood was absorbed into the Shire of Dalrymple.
At the 2006 census, Ravenswood had a population of 191.
Amenities
Facilities in the town include a combined general store and post office, a primary school and two pubs, the Railway and the Imperial. Fuel can be obtained from both Top Camp near the entrance to the town and the post office. Top Camp also offers meals and bungalow style accommodation.
Heritage listings
Ravenswood has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- Barton Street: Mabel Mill
- Barton Street: Railway Hotel
- Chapel Street: Ravenswood Community Church
- Deighton Street: Ravenswood Ambulance Station
- Elphinstone street: London North Mine
- Macrossan Street: Cake Shop
- Macrossan Street: Imperial Hotel
- Macrossan Street: Ravenswood Post Office
- Macrossan Street: School of Arts
- Macrossan Street: Shop adjacent to Thorps Building
- Macrossan Street: Thorps Building
- Raven Street: Ravenswood Court House and Police Station
- School Street: Ravenswood School and Residence
- Totley (2 km from Ravenswood): Totley Township
- Via Ravenswood to Mingela Road: Pandanus Creek Battery
Economy
Two gold mines are in operation in the area; a large open cast pit behind the town and an underground one at nearby Mount Wright. With the resurgence of mining in recent years, the population has grown from 200 to nearly 500. Tourism is also important.
Education
Ravenswood State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at School Street (20°06′13″S 146°53′22″E / 20.1036°S 146.8895°E). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 23 students with 3 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).
There is no secondary school in Ravenswood. The nearest government secondary school is Charters Towers State High School in Charters Towers to the west.
Due to the extensive size of this locality, the distances involved to travel to either or both of these schools may make it impossible to attend. Distance education and boarding schools are the other options.
