| Stanthorpe Queensland |
|
Stanthorpe township (north-west aspect) taken from Mount Marley lookout |
|
|
Stanthorpe
|
|
| Population: | 4,271[1] |
| Postcode: | 4380 |
| Elevation: | 811 m (2,661 ft) |
| Location: |
|
| LGA: | Southern Downs Region |
| County: | Bentinck |
| Parish: | Stanthorpe, Broadwater, Folkestone |
| State District: | Southern Downs |
| Federal Division: | Maranoa |
Stanthorpe is a town situated in south east Queensland, Australia. The town lies on the New England Highway near the New South Wales border 223 km from Brisbane via Warwick, 56 km north of Tenterfield and 811 m above sea level.[2] The area surrounding the town is known as the Granite Belt. At the 2006 census, Stanthorpe had a population of 4,271.[1]
Contents |
Stanthorpe was founded by tin miners. People came from many countries to mine tin from 1872. Prior to 1872 this area boasted some large pastoral runs and a few prospectors in bark huts. At that time, the area was known as ‘Quart Pot Creek’. The Private Township of Stannum existed in the area along one side of the present main street. With the discovery of tin and the influx of miners and new businesses, a ‘more suitable’ name was sought by the town fathers. Thus, Stanthorpe became the name which encompassed all, as this area became for a time, the largest alluvial tin mining and mineral field in Queensland. Stanthorpe literally means 'tintown', as Stannum is Latin for 'tin' and thorpe is Middle English for 'village'. When the tin prices fell many miners turned to farming. The sub tropical climate was very suitable for growing cool climate fruits and vegetables. Grapes were first planted here in the 1860s with encouragement from the local Catholic parish priest Father Jerome Davadi to produce altar wine. His Italian descent made grape growing and wine production a familiar past time and the notion caught on in the area. There were plenty of Italian settlers and wine was made for home enjoyment.
The railway reached Stanthorpe in May, 1881.[3] The cool dry climate was valued as an aid to health from the early nineteenth century especially for those suffering from Tuberculosis or chest conditions. Following the First World War, Stanthorpe was a major resettlement area for soldiers recovering from mustard gas exposure. Many of these Soldier Settlers took up the land leased to them in the areas around Stanthorpe which now bear the names of WW1 battlefields. Stanthorpe today is a popular place to reside because of its welcoming acceptance of newcomers.
Owing to its elevation, Stanthorpe features a subtropical highland climate. At an altitude of 811 metres,[2] Stanthorpe holds the record for the lowest temperature recorded in Queensland at -10.6 °C on 23 June 1961.[4] In winter, Stanthorpe is frequently the coldest town in the state. Sleet and light snowfalls have been recorded. It can be very hot in the summer, getting to above 30 °C.
The main industry today is agriculture. Crops grown include vegetables, apples, grapes and stone fruit. Wine is also produced in the area, and sheep and cattle grazing is also prevalent.
There are local events, including the Primavera,[5] the Australian Small Winemakers Show,[6] the Apple and Grape Harvest Festival[7] and the Australian Country Shows and Rodeos.
Rebel FM 97.1 MHz was Stanthorpe's first commercial FM radio station. Rebel FM has a new & classic rock music format. The Breeze broadcasts on 90.1 MHz with an easy adult contemporary & classics hits format. Both stations are part of the Rebel Media group. Toowoomba based station CFM also broadcasts in Stanthorpe on 97.9 MHz. CFM is a part of the Australia wide Southern Cross Media network. [8]
The Stanthorpe area is served by a local Community Radio Station Ten FM. The Station is currently transmitting on 98.7 MHz with a low power transmitter situated on Mount Marlay. The station has recently upgraded its Stanthorpe studios with a new mixing desk, new computers and professional grade monitor speakers. Ten FM has a local focus, derived in part from the stringent rules controlling Community Radio Stations. The station transmits a broad range of programs to attract the widest audience. In particular, the station broadcasts Italoz, a weekly program with an Italian theme to cater for the many listeners around the Stanthorpe area with an Italian background.
The Border Post is the only paid local newspaper servicing the district. The Stanthorpe Border Post is relied upon for its coverage of local news and events.
Stanthorpe and the surrounding Granite Belt and Granite Highlands area of South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales are the centre of a booming winery and national parks tourist destination. There are more than 50 wineries in the Granite Belt area, with a wide range of restaurants, Accommodation places and tourist venues. The Granite Belt national parks are Girraween, Bald Rock, Sundown, Boonoo Boonoo. Wine and tourism are a very important part of the town's economy. Backpacking is popular and there is large demand for fruit and vegetable pickers from November until May each year. Storm King Dam offers some good angling opportunities for Murray Cod, Yellowbelly and Silver Perch.
Stanthorpe has a private co-ed catholic school, St. Joseph's School, servicing Preparatory to Year 12, as well as 3 state funded institutions: Stanthorpe State Primary School, servicing Preparatory to Year 7; Stanthorpe State High School, servicing Year 8 to Year 12; and the Queensland College of Wine Tourism. The towns first Bachelor level tertiary institution, The College of Wine Tourism, was opened in 2007. The college operates in co-operation with the local Stanthorpe State High School,[9] as well as other regional schools, providing secondary, undergraduate, and graduate certification related to wine and tourism industries.[10]
|
||||||||||||||