Ravenshoe, Queensland

Ravenshoe
Queensland
Ravenshoe
Coordinates 17°36′33″S 145°29′01″E / 17.60917°S 145.48361°ECoordinates: 17°36′33″S 145°29′01″E / 17.60917°S 145.48361°E
Population 860 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 4888
Elevation 930 m (3,051 ft)
Location
  • 1,774 km (1,102 mi) NW of Brisbane
  • 123 km (76 mi) SW of Cairns
LGA(s) Tablelands Region
State electorate(s) Dalrymple
Federal Division(s) Kennedy

Ravenshoe (/ˈreɪvənz.hoʊ/ RAY-vənz-hoh)[2] is a town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is located 123 kilometres (76 mi) south west of the regional centre, Cairns. At the 2011 census, Ravenshoe had a population of 860.[1]

At 930 metres (3,050 ft) above sea level, Ravenshoe is the highest town in Queensland, with Queensland's highest pub "The Top Pub" 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

Ravenshoe was founded in 1881 by John Moffat as a timber town, and first named Cedar Creek, after the discovery of a vast amount of cedar trees by William Mazlin. The towns name was later changed to Ravenshoe. It was needed to provide for the growing population in the area at the time due to the tin rush in Herberton and Irvinebank. The city of Cairns was originally founded because the tableland was so prosperous at the time it needed a port from which to export tin and hemp. Ravenshoe's first saw mill was built in 1899.

Ravenshoe was connected with Cairns by railway with the opening of the last section on 11 December 1916.[3]

Attractions

Ravenshoe is located close to waterfalls, crater lakes, swamps, bush walks, water holes, rainforests and historical landmarks. It also has a number of galleries and creative industries, reflecting the nature of the locals. The Windy Hill Wind Farm was owned by Stanwell Co. (now owned by Queensland Government's Transfield Services Infrastructure Fund) generating enough electricity to power several towns (together with the Koombooloomba dam hydro electric dams ). Ravenshoe Steam Railway operates to Tumoulin. Ravenshoe also has an extremely diverse variety of plants and animals, with 12 species of possum and 8 species of kangaroo and abundant bird life in the area.[4] In 2005, Malaan National Park was declared over forests were previously known as Dirran State Forest.[5]

Windy Hill Wind Farm in Ravenshoe

Bush walking

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.

Local industries

Ravenshoe has a bakery, which is well known for its bread, an IGA Supermarket/Grocery Store, a post office, a medical centre, a video shop, a Mitre 10, a Retravision, two primary schools (Ravenshoe State School and St Teresa's Primary School) and a high school (Ravenshoe State High School).

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Ravenshoe (Urban Centre)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  2. ↑ Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
  3. ↑ Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, May 1988, pp108-117
  4. ↑ Ravenshoe Visitor Centre. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Malaan National Park Management Statement 2013" (PDF). Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing. Retrieved 28 August 2014.

External links