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Ravenswood, Queensland

Coordinates: 20°05′47″S 146°53′20″E / 20.0963°S 146.8888°E / -20.0963; 146.8888 (Ravenswood (town centre))
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Ravenswood
Queensland
Imperial Hotel at Ravenswood
Ravenswood is located in Queensland
Ravenswood
Ravenswood
Coordinates20°05′47″S 146°53′20″E / 20.0963°S 146.8888°E / -20.0963; 146.8888 (Ravenswood (town centre))
Population297 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density0.09832/km2 (0.2546/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4816
Area3,020.8 km2 (1,166.3 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC 10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Charters Towers Region
State electorate(s)Traeger
Federal division(s)Kennedy
Localities around Ravenswood:
Dotswood Mingela Reid River
Upper Haughton
Broughton Ravenswood Mulgrave
Swans Lagoon
Seventy Mile Mount Wyatt Eight Mile Creek

Ravenswood is a rural town and locality in the Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Ravenswood had a population of 297 people.[1]

It is historically and currently a gold mining town.

Geography

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The Flinders Highway loosely bounds parts of the north-western boundary of the locality, entering from the north-east (Reid River) and exiting to the west (Broughton).[4] The Great Northern railway line takes a similar route to the highway mostly immediately parallel to the highway to the north or the south, with the following stations:

There are a number of neighbourhoods within the locality:

History

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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.

Silver was discovered in the area in 1870 by W. Stable.[13]

Ravenswood State School opened on 27 October 1873.[14]

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.[15][16]

Ravenswood Convent School opened in 1885 in association with St Patrick's Catholic Church. It closed in 1948.[14][17]

Sandy Creek Provisional School opened on 26 June 1885. In 1886 it was renamed Evlinton Provisional School. On 1 January 1909 it became Evlington State School. It closed in 1921.[14]

Kirk River Provisional School opened on 1 October 1890. On 1 June 1929 it became Kirk River State School, but then closed on 8 May 1930. In 1934 it reopened as Kirk River Provisional School. It closed in 1944.[14]

Kirk Diggings Provisional School opened on 1903 but closed and reopened a number of times before finally closing circa 1918.[14]

Pandanus Creek Provisional School opened in 1909, becoming Pandanus Creek State School on 1 May 1909. It closed in 1926.[14]

In August 2017, an early cemetery in Ravenswood was found by contractors using ground penetrating radar while working on Carpentaria Gold's Ravenswood Expansion Project. The 16 graves of 9 adults and 7 children were found behind the Ravenswood State School sports oval; the burials are thought to have occurred in the late 1860s and early 1870s. Forensic archeologists will attempt to obtain DNA from the remains.[18]

A major expansion to the local gold mining industry was announced in 2020.[19]

Demographics

[edit]

In the 2006 census, the town of Ravenswood had a population of 191 people.[20]

In the 2011 census, the locality of Ravenswood had a population of 349 people.[21]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Ravenswood had a population of 255 people.[22]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Ravenswood had a population of 297 people.[1]

Heritage listings

[edit]

Ravenswood has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Economy

[edit]

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 [when?] to nearly 500. Tourism is also important.

Education

[edit]

Ravenswood State School is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls at School Street (20°06′13″S 146°53′22″E / 20.1036°S 146.8895°E / -20.1036; 146.8895 (Ravenswood State School)).[40][41] 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).[42]

There is no secondary school in Ravenswood. The nearest government secondary school is Charters Towers State High School in Charters Towers to the west.[4]

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.[4] Distance education and boarding schools are the other options.

Amenities

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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.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Ravenswood (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Ravenswood – town in Charters Towers Region (entry 28071)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Ravenswood – locality in Charters Towers Region (entry 49747)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Boori – locality unbounded in Charters Towers Regional (entry 39231)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Cardington – locality unbounded in Charters Towers Regional (entry 6212)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Kirk – locality unbounded in Charters Towers Regional (entry 18286)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Rochford – locality unbounded in Charters Towers Regional (entry 28617)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Silver Valley – locality unbounded in Charters Towers Regional (entry 30843)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Waigera – locality unbounded in Charters Towers Regional (entry 39339)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Woldston – locality unbounded in Charters Towers Regional (entry 37816)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  13. ^ Hooper, Colin (2011). Angor to Zillmanton; stories of North Queensland's deserted towns (7th ed.). Bolton. p. 19. ISBN 978-0975775004.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  15. ^ "Local Authorities". The Northern Miner. Charters Towers, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 30 April 1924. p. 2. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  16. ^ "Dalrymple Shire Council Monthly Meeting". The Northern Miner. Charters Towers, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 12 February 1930. p. 4. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  17. ^ "Ravenswood". Queensland Places. University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  18. ^ Andersen, John (13 October 2017). "Hidden graves unearthed in North Queensland". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  19. ^ Major, Tom (17 November 2020). "Massive expansion for Ravenswood gold mine could see it become Queensland's own Super Pit". ABC Rural. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  20. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Ravenswood (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  21. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Ravenswood (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 June 2016. Edit this at Wikidata
  22. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Ravenswood (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  23. ^ "Mabel Mill (former) (entry 601206)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  24. ^ "Railway Hotel, Ravenswood (entry 600443)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  25. ^ "Ravenswood Community Church (entry 601829)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  26. ^ "Chapel Street Bridge (entry 650242)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  27. ^ "Ravenswood Ambulance Station (entry 600445)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  28. ^ "London North Mine, Ravenswood (entry 601207)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  29. ^ "Cake Shop, Ravenswood (entry 600449)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  30. ^ "Imperial Hotel, Ravenswood (entry 600446)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  31. ^ "Ravenswood Post Office and Residence (entry 600447)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  32. ^ "Ravenswood School of Arts (entry 600453)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  33. ^ "Shop adjacent to Thorps Building (entry 600454)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  34. ^ "Thorps Building (entry 600452)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  35. ^ "Ravenswood Court House Group (former) (entry 601204)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  36. ^ "Ravenswood School and Residence (entry 600455)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  37. ^ "Totley Township (entry 600457)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  38. ^ "Pandanus Creek Battery (entry 601848)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  39. ^ {{cite QHR||Ravenswood Mining Landscape and Chinese Settlement Area|650038|access-date=21 February 2018}}
  40. ^ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  41. ^ "Ravenswood State School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  42. ^ "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
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