Ravenshoe

Geography

Ravenshoe is on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland. It is located 123 kilometres (76 mi) south west of the regional centre, Cairns.

At 930 metres (3,050 ft) above sea level, Ravenshoe is the highest town in Queensland, with Queensland's highest pub "The Ravenshoe Hotel" (formerly the "Tully Falls Hotel" until 2014) 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.

History

The traditional owners of the land in the Ravenshoe district are the Jirrbal people who speak a dialect of the Dyirbal language.

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.

Ravenshoe State School opened on 5 February 1912. It expanded to offer secondary schooling on 3 February 1958.

By 1912, Ravenshoe had a store, a school, the Club Hotel and a population of 1,000 people. The timber industry was by now supplying Queensland maple (Flindersia brayleyana), oak (Argyrodendron peralatum) and black walnut (Endiandra globosa).

Geraldton Road State School opened in 1916 via Ravenshoe. It closed in 1960. It was at 45 Geraldton Road (now within the boundaries of neighbouring Evelyn, 17.50658°S 145.50540°E / -17.50658; 145.50540 (Geraldton Road State School (former))).

Chilverton State School opened on 31 July 1916 "via Ravenshoe". It closed on 1 July 1956. It was at 12280 Kennedy Highway (17.55944°S 145.51721°E / -17.55944; 145.51721 (Chilverton State School (former))), which is in Ravenshoe today but on the boundary with Evelyn.

On 11 December 1916, Ravenshoe was finally connected with Cairns by the Tablelands railway line.

Ravenshoe Methodist Church was officially opened on Saturday 29 May 1920, the first church to be erected in Ravenshoe. It was built from timber and was 30 by 20 feet (9.1 by 6.1 m) and could seat 80 people. It cost £390. It was at 13 Moore Street (17.604858°S 145.481°E / -17.604858; 145.481 (Ravenshoe Methodist Church (former))). After the closure of the church some time after 1975, the building was relocated to 592 Wooroora Road to be incorporated into a house.

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the locality of Ravenshoe had a population of 1,442 people, while the town of Ravenshoe had a population of 860 people.

In the 2016 census, the locality of Ravenshoe had a population of 1,400 people.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Ravenshoe had a population of 1,332 people.

Education

Ravenshoe State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep–12) school for boys and girls. The school has two campuses; a primary (Prep–6) campus at 10 Ascham Street (17.6126°S 145.4819°E / -17.6126; 145.4819 (Ravenshoe State School - Junior Campus)) and a secondary (7–12) campus at Moore Street (17.6105°S 145.4887°E / -17.6105; 145.4887 (Ravenshoe State School)). It includes a special education program operating at the Moore Street campus. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 420 students with 46 teachers (41 full-time equivalent) and 34 non-teaching staff (23 full-time equivalent). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 385 students with 45 teachers (41 full-time equivalent) and 39 non-teaching staff (24 full-time equivalent).

St Teresa's School is a Catholic primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 6 Moffatt Street (17.6113°S 145.4870°E / -17.6113; 145.4870 (St Teresa's School)). 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). 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).

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.

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.

The Tablelands Regional Council operate a public library at 24 Moore Street.

The Ravenshoe branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 15 Herbert Street.

St Teresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church is on the south-east corner of Moore Street and Moffat Street (17.611055°S 145.487°E / -17.611055; 145.487 (St Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church)). It is within the Ravenshoe Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns which is administered from the Malanda Parish.

St Barnabas Anglican Church is at 18 Moore Street (17.610325°S 145.487°E / -17.610325; 145.487 (St Barnabas Anglican Church)).

Ravenshoe Seventh Day Adventist Church is at 32 John Street (17.604593°S 145.487°E / -17.604593; 145.487 (Ravenshoe Seventh Day Adventist Church)).

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses is at 13 Tully Falls Road (17.61656°S 145.487°E / -17.61656; 145.487 (Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses)).

Attractions

Natural attractions

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. In 2005, Malaan National Park was declared over forests which were previously known as Dirran State Forest.

Bushwalking

Misty Mountain Wilderness trails are a network of extensive walking tracks that traverse Tully Gorge National Park and Wooroonooran National Park. There are bushwalks to the Millstream Falls as well as Little Millstream Falls.

Steam railway

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.

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.