Stanthorpe, Queensland

Stanthorpe
Queensland

Stanthorpe township (north-west aspect) taken from Mount Marlay lookout
Stanthorpe
Coordinates 28°39′22.26″S 151°56′14.1″E / 28.6561833°S 151.937250°ECoordinates: 28°39′22.26″S 151°56′14.1″E / 28.6561833°S 151.937250°E
Population 5,385 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 4380
Elevation 811 m (2,661 ft)
Location
  • 218 km (135 mi) SW of Brisbane
  • 143 km (89 mi) S of Toowoomba
  • 237 km (147 mi) W of Gold Coast
LGA(s) Southern Downs Region
County Bentinck
Parish Stanthorpe, Broadwater, Folkestone
State electorate(s) Southern Downs
Federal Division(s) Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
21.7 °C
71 °F
9.0 °C
48 °F
757.6 mm
29.8 in

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 kilometres (139 mi) from Brisbane via Warwick, 56 kilometres (35 mi) north of Tenterfield and 811 m above sea level.[2] The area surrounding the town is known as the Granite Belt. At the 2011 census, Stanthorpe had a population of 5385.[1]

History

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 First World War battlefields. Stanthorpe today is a popular place to reside because of its welcoming acceptance of newcomers.

Heritage listings

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

Gallery

Farming

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.

Geography and climate

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.[11] Sleet and light snowfalls are occasionally recorded, with the last occurrence being in June 2013.[12] The latest Queensland snowfall on record occurred on 17 November 2006.[13]

Climate data for Stanthorpe (Stanthorpe Leslie Parade, 1957-2014)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37.8
(100)
37.2
(99)
34.2
(93.6)
30.6
(87.1)
27.3
(81.1)
22.8
(73)
22.2
(72)
30.7
(87.3)
32.2
(90)
33.4
(92.1)
35.7
(96.3)
38.0
(100.4)
38.0
(100.4)
Average high °C (°F) 27.4
(81.3)
26.4
(79.5)
24.9
(76.8)
22.1
(71.8)
18.4
(65.1)
15.5
(59.9)
14.8
(58.6)
16.3
(61.3)
19.6
(67.3)
22.6
(72.7)
25.2
(77.4)
27.0
(80.6)
21.7
(71.1)
Average low °C (°F) 15.6
(60.1)
15.6
(60.1)
13.8
(56.8)
9.5
(49.1)
5.4
(41.7)
2.6
(36.7)
1.0
(33.8)
2.0
(35.6)
5.1
(41.2)
8.9
(48)
11.9
(53.4)
14.2
(57.6)
8.8
(47.8)
Record low °C (°F) 7.0
(44.6)
3.3
(37.9)
−0.2
(31.6)
−2.2
(28)
−6.8
(19.8)
−10.6
(12.9)
−9.4
(15.1)
−7.8
(18)
−5.6
(21.9)
−2.2
(28)
0.0
(32)
4.4
(39.9)
−10.6
(12.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 97.3
(3.831)
85.8
(3.378)
65.5
(2.579)
42.7
(1.681)
46.7
(1.839)
47.2
(1.858)
49.1
(1.933)
42.3
(1.665)
51.7
(2.035)
69.4
(2.732)
75.6
(2.976)
93.5
(3.681)
766.8
(30.188)
Avg. rainy days (≥ 0.2mm) 10.1 9.5 8.9 6.3 7.3 7.7 7.6 6.6 6.5 8.2 8.7 10.0 97.4
Source: Bureau of Meteorology[14]

Culture

Annual events

There are local events, including the Primavera,[15] the Australian Small Winemakers Show,[16] the Apple and Grape Harvest Festival[17] and the Australian Country Shows and Rodeos.

The Brass monkey at Stanthorpe's central Post Office Square
South-West aspect of Stanthorpe Township as seen from Mt Marlay

Media

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.[18]

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 Marley. The station has in 2011 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.

Tourism

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, with the region operating its own wine and tourism marketing body named Granite Belt Wine Country. Backpacking is popular and there is large demand for fruit and vegetable pickers from November until May each year.[19] Storm King Dam offers some good angling opportunities for Murray cod, yellowbelly and silver perch.

Education

Stanthorpe has a private co-ed catholic school, St. Joseph's School, servicing Preparatory to Year 12, as well as 3 main 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. There are also handfuls of smaller state primary schools scattered throughout the region. 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,[20] as well as other regional schools, providing secondary, undergraduate, and graduate certification related to wine and tourism industries.[21]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Stanthorpe (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Stanthorpe" (WEB ARTICLE). Melbourne: The Age. 2004-02-08. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  3. Kerr, J.D. (December 1970). "The Centenary of the Southern Line". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin: 261–291.
  4. "El Arish (entry 16394)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 2013-07-13.
  5. "Masel Residence (former) (entry 16314)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 2013-07-13.
  6. "Central Hotel (entry 15605)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 2013-07-13.
  7. "Sundown Tin and Copper Mine (entry 5207)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 2013-07-13.
  8. "Stanthorpe Soldiers Memorial (entry 16393)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 2013-07-13.
  9. "Quart Pot Creek Rail Bridge (entry 15604)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 2013-07-13.
  10. "Cherry Gully Tunnel (entry 16280)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 2013-07-13.
  11. "Queensland Extremes" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2010-09-30. Retrieved 2010-12-26.
  12. "Low-level Snow". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  13. "Queensland Snow Events". Weather Armidale. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  14. "Stanthorpe Leslie Parade". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  15. "Granite Belt Wine Country: Primavera". Granite Belt Wine & Tourism Inc. Retrieved 2010-12-26.
  16. "Australian Winemakers Show". Australian Small Winemakers Show. Retrieved 2010-12-26.
  17. "Apple & Grape Harvest Festival". Stanthorpe Festivals Association. Retrieved 2010-12-26.
  18. theradio.com.au
  19. "BEST Employment Harvest Labour". Best Employment Ltd. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  20. "Queensland College of Wine Tourism". Retrieved 2010-12-26.
  21. "Queensland College of Wine Tourism". University of Southern Queensland. 2009-07-19. Retrieved 2010-12-26.
  22. http://www.bushverse.com/drake/drakebio.html

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stanthorpe, Queensland.