Ravensbourne, Queensland

Last updated

Ravensbourne
Queensland
Fields at Ravensbourne.jpg
The rolling hills of Ravensbourne, 2014
Australia Queensland location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Ravensbourne
Coordinates 27°20′09″S152°09′31″E / 27.3358°S 152.1586°E / -27.3358; 152.1586 (Ravensbourne (centre of locality)) Coordinates: 27°20′09″S152°09′31″E / 27.3358°S 152.1586°E / -27.3358; 152.1586 (Ravensbourne (centre of locality))
Population248 (2016 census) [1]
 • Density3.028/km2 (7.843/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 4352
Area81.9 km2 (31.6 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s) Toowoomba Region
State electorate(s) Condamine
Federal division(s) Maranoa
Suburbs around Ravensbourne:
Crows Nest Cressbrook Creek
Biarra 		Redbank Creek
Grapetree Ravensbourne Redbank Creek
Perseverance Palmtree Buaraba

Ravensbourne is a rural locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. [2] In the 2016 census, Ravensbourne had a population of 248 people. [1]

Contents

Geography

The locality is on the Darling Downs in southern Queensland. [3]

The locality is crossed from east to west by the Esk–Hampton Road. [3]

In the far north is reservoir created behind the Cressbrook Dam. Most of the area is within the catchment of the dammed Cressbrook Creek, a tributary of the Brisbane River. However a small section in the southeast lies within the Lockyer Creek catchment. In this part lies the Ravensbourne National Park. In the west Perseverance Creek marks the boundary. [3]

History

Map showing the boundaries of the Ravensbourne locality and parish. Several historical sites are also marked including the tramway, saw mills and village settlement. Based on map data from Refs. Ravensbourne Parish and Locality Map.svg
Map showing the boundaries of the Ravensbourne locality and parish. Several historical sites are also marked including the tramway, saw mills and village settlement. Based on map data from Refs.

The locality takes its name from the parish, which in turn was named after the pastoral run belonging to a Mr Raven which was near a creek (called a bourne in many parts of England). [2]

A reserve for camping was established in 1880 and cancelled in 1885. [6] [7]

A Village Settlement was established in the late 1880s including a post office and a half acre allotment for houses. [8] [9]

Ravensbourne Provisional School opened on 22 June 1891. On 1 January 1909, it became Ravensbourne State School. It closed on 31 December 1969. [10] It was at the end of Ravensourne School Road off Post Office Road ( 27°21′34″S152°09′39″E / 27.3595°S 152.1609°E / -27.3595; 152.1609 (Ravensbourne State School (former)) ). [11] [3]

The school acted as a community meeting hall including for the Farmers' Association. [12] Other additions included a general store and saw mill. The school, post office and general store are no longer in operation. [9]

Few buildings remain in the original village. The site of the school is currently owned by the University of Southern Queensland and is marked as a scientific reserve. [13] In 2003 Reushle Cottage was moved from Post Office Road (in Ravensbourne) to Hampton to act as the visitor information centre. [14]

In the 2016 census, Ravensbourne had a population of 248 people. [1]

Agriculture & Lumber

Evidence of an Aboriginal yam dig site can be found in Ravensbourne national park. [15]

Logging began in the 1860s and 1870s. [15] By 1891 two mills serviced the area, one situated along Perseverance creek and another established circa 1891 closer to the Ravensbourne village settlement. [9]

In 1889 when the Ravensbourne region was opened for selection, large areas were cleared for farming of maize, potatoes and dairy cows. [15]

The rich soil has been used for a range of farming activities including vegetable and flower farming. Present day farming activities include cattle, avocados, limes and a range of other vegetables and meat products. [16]

Mining

Gold prospecting was conducted at Bunkers Hill (located in the Ravensbourne region) in the 1870s and by 1932 the site had grown to 25 men. [17] In 1933 deposits of gold, silver, copper and lead were discovered 22 feet (approximately 7 meters) underground. As with much of the gold mining in the Esk and Brisbane Valley regions, gold mining has remained a sideline compared to farming and grazing activities. [18]

The region also hosts an open cut mine for Kaolin. [19]

Transport

Early goods were transported by cart from the farms in Ravensbourne to Hampton and then by train from Hampton to Toowoomba for sale. In the 1920s trucks replaced carts for haulage to Hampton or directly to Toowoomba. [20] Sometime after 1932 the Esk–Hampton Road became trafficable allowing access to the Brisbane Valley railway line.

Between 1907 and 1909 the Munro Tramway construction reached Ravensbourne, terminating at Bunkers Hill. The private tramway operated until 1936 haling timber and other freight between the loading stations, saw mills and rail connection at Hampton. Very little evidence remains of the tramway as most of the tramway steel was salvaged shortly after it ceased operation.A partially restored Shay locomotive recovered from Bunkers Hill is on display near the Ravensbourne National Park. [21]

Attractions

There are several short walks along the Munro Tramway and a partially restored Shay locomotive is visible from Esk–Hampton Road near Ravensbourne National park.

Picnic areas and several short walks can be found at Ravensbourne National Park and the Gus Beutel Lookout.

Camping, kangaroos and water activities can be found at Cressbrook Dam and Perseverance Dam.

Related Research Articles

Toowoomba City in Queensland, Australia

Toowoomba is a city in the Toowoomba Region of the Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia. It is 125 km (78 mi) west of Queensland's capital city Brisbane by road. The estimated urban population of Toowoomba as of June 2019 was 169,010, having grown at an average annual rate of 1.02% year-on-year over the preceding five years. Toowoomba is the second-most-populous inland city in the country after the national capital of Canberra and hence the largest town on the Darling Downs, and the second largest regional city in Queensland after Townsville. It is also referred to as the capital of the Darling Downs.

Oakey, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Oakey is a rural town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Oakey had a population of 4,705 people.

Esk, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Esk is a town and locality in the Somerset Region in South East Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Esk had a population of 1,698 people.

Somerset Region Local government area in Queensland, Australia

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Hampton, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Hampton is a rural town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Hampton had a population of 356 people.

Cressbrook Dam

Cressbrook Dam is one of the three water storages used to supply Toowoomba and the surrounding region in Queensland, Australia. The dam is 33 km (21 mi) north-east of Toowoomba in the locality of Biarra in the Somerset Region. It was constructed in 1983 for the former Toowoomba City Council. The other two storages used for Toowoomba are Perseverance Dam and Cooby Dam.

Esk–Hampton Road

The Esk–Hampton Road is a state highway in Queensland. It leaves the Brisbane Valley Highway at Esk and travels in a westerly direction for 45.7 km (28 mi) until it reaches the New England Highway at Hampton, where it ends. This road is part of State Route 85, which extends for over 570 km (354 mi) from Bribie Island to Nindigully, duplexing with the Brisbane Valley Highway from the D'Aguilar Highway to Esk, the New England Highway from Hampton to Toowoomba, the Gore Highway from Toowoomba to the Leichhardt Highway, and the southern 19 km (12 mi) section of the Leichhardt Highway to Goondiwindi.

Crows Nest Branch Railway was originally surveyed as a direct line from Toowoomba north to Crows Nest in Queensland, Australia. The branch eventually took a more circuitous route to cover the maximum amount of farming country. The first stage struck out from Pengarry Junction a short distance west of Toowoomba and continued via Birnan, Cawdor, Shirley, Woolmer, Meringandan and Kleinton to terminate at Cabarlah. It opened on 17 September 1883. Shortly after opening, a daily service was provided to Cabarlah.

Westbrook, Queensland Suburb of Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia

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Shire of Highfields

The Shire of Highfields is a former local government area on the Darling Downs in Queensland, Australia. It existed between 1879 and 1949.

Perseverance, Queensland Suburb of Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia

Perseverance is a rural locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Perseverance had a population of 62 people.

Grapetree, Queensland Suburb of Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia

Grapetree is a rural locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Grapetree had a population of 32 people.

Cressbrook is a rural locality in the Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Cressbrook had a population of 117 people.

Harlin Rail Bridge

Harlin Rail Bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge over Ivory Creek at Harlin, Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Queensland Railways and built in 1910 by Queensland Railways. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 November 2008. It was destroyed in 2013 as a consequence of flooding associated with Cyclone Oswald.

Yimbun Railway Tunnel

Yimbun Railway Tunnel is a heritage-listed tunnel at Sinnamons Lane, Harlin, Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Queensland Railways and built from 1909 to 1910 by Queensland Railways. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 November 2008.

Hazeldean, Queensland Suburb of Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia

Hazeldean is a rural locality in the Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Hazeldean had a population of 262 people.

Pierces Creek is a rural locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was formerly known as Virginia. In the 2016 census, Pierces Creek had a population of 70 people.

Biarra, Queensland Suburb of Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia

Biarra is a rural locality in the Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Biarra had a population of 257 people.

Cressbrook Creek is a rural locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Cressbrook Creek had a population of 20 people.

The Munro Tramway was a private tramway established in the late 1890s and early 1900s to cart timber and other freight from Perseverance and Ravensbourne to Hampton in Queensland, Australia. The tramway was originally serviced by teams of horses until the early 1900s when the first of two Shay locomotives began servicing the line. This was the first tramway in Queensland to use a steam locomotive to haul timber and continued to operate until 1936.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Ravensbourne (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  2. 1 2 3 "Ravensbourne – locality in Toowoomba Region (entry 48050)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  4. ↑ "Queensland Globe". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  5. ↑ Munro Tramway Historical Group Inc. "Trail Signs". Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  6. ↑ "OFFICIAL NOTIFICATIONS". The Brisbane Courier . Vol. XL, no. 8, 616. Queensland, Australia. 22 August 1885. p. 3. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "OFFICIAL NOTIFICATIONS". The Week . Vol. IX, no. 218. Queensland, Australia. 28 February 1880. p. 8. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "Crows Nest Queensland -- Ravensbourne". Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 "RAVENSBOURNE VILLAGE SETTLEMENT". The Brisbane Courier . Vol. XLVII, no. 10, 304. Queensland, Australia. 23 January 1891. p. 4. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
  11. ↑ "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m43" (Map). Queensland Government. 1937. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "Ravensbourne". Darling Downs Gazette . Vol. XXXVI, no. 8, 019. Queensland, Australia. 28 March 1894. p. 3. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ Google (27 December 2020). "Ravensbourne, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  14. ↑ "Reushle Cottage" . Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 "Ravensbourne National Park -- Nature, culture and history". Department of Environment and Science -- Parks and Forests. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  16. ↑ "Ravensbourne Escape -- News". Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  17. ↑ "Gold Discovery at Bunkers Hill". 27 December 1932. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  18. ↑ Ruth Kerr (1988). Confidence and Tradittion. ISBN   0731615689. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  19. ↑ Queensland Resources Council and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (2005). Exploring Mining in Queensland: Past, Present and Future (PDF). ISBN   0957870124.
  20. ↑ Crows Nest Information. "Friedrich Reushle". Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  21. ↑ Munro Tramway Historical Group Inc. "Tramway route and features". Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2020.

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