Ravenshoe, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Ravenshoe is a town on the Atherton Tableland
in Far North
Queensland
, Australia
. It is located 123 kilometres (76.4 mi) south west of the regional centre, Cairns
. At the 2006 census
, Ravenshoe had a population of 910.
At 930 metres (3,051.2 ft) above sea level, Ravenshoe is the highest town in Queensland, with Queensland's highest pub "The Top Pub" and highest railway station. Across from the top pub is Win's Gallery, showcasing local woodcraft and the paintings of Winsome Board. 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 900000 hectares (2,223,946.5 acre) of surrounding rainforest world heritage listed, the main industries have been tourism, beef and dairy farming.
as a timber town, after the discovery of a vast amount of cedar trees by William Mazlin. 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.
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. There is a dirt bike track for which people come from all over the tablelands to use, and a pony club — horse riding trails the biggest and best horse riding club on the tablelands
and Wooroonooran National Park
. There are bushwalks to the Millstream Falls
as well as Little Millstream Falls.
, a Retravision, two primary schools (Ravenshoe State School and St Teresa's Primary School) and a high school (Ravenshoe State High School).
There are plans underway to build a sports and recreation centre there because the high altitude is good for professional sports and training (about 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) above sea level on the Great Dividing Range
). They are going to put a 50 metres (164 ft) pool in-doors .
in the Malaan Rainforest, known as the malaan monster. There have been many reports of people seeing him over the years. There is reputed to be some sort of big cat living in the rainforest in the area as well. It is believed that the billabong known as the "Army Hole" due to its function as an army swimming spot in the war is haunted by the ghosts of several people who have drowned there over the years.
Atherton Tableland
The Atherton Tableland is a fertile plateau which is part of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland, Australia. It is located west to south-south-west inland from Cairns, well into the tropics, but its elevated position provides a climate suitable for dairy farming. It has an area of around...
in Far North
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland, or FNQ, is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. The region, which contains a large section of the Tropical North Queensland area, stretches from the city of Cairns north to the Torres Strait...
Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is located 123 kilometres (76.4 mi) south west of the regional centre, Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Ravenshoe had a population of 910.
At 930 metres (3,051.2 ft) above sea level, Ravenshoe is the highest town in Queensland, with Queensland's highest pub "The Top Pub" and highest railway station. Across from the top pub is Win's Gallery, showcasing local woodcraft and the paintings of Winsome Board. It also has the Millstream Falls
Millstream Falls
Millstream Falls is found on a tributary to the Herbert River known as The Millstream, 15 km southwest of Ravenshoe, on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. Protected within the Millstream Falls National Park, the falls are accessible by road from the Kennedy...
, the widest waterfall in Australia. Traditionally the main industry in Ravenshoe was timber, but since 1987, when the government made 900000 hectares (2,223,946.5 acre) of surrounding rainforest world heritage listed, the main industries have been tourism, beef and dairy farming.
History
Ravenshoe was founded in 1881 by John MoffatJohn Moffat
John W. Moffat is a Professor Emeritus in physics at the University of Toronto.He is also an adjunct Professor in physics at the University of Waterloo and a resident affiliate member of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics....
as a timber town, after the discovery of a vast amount of cedar trees by William Mazlin. It was needed to provide for the growing population in the area at the time due to the tin rush in Herberton
Herberton, Queensland
Herberton is a town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Herberton had a population of 974.-History:...
and Irvinebank
Irvinebank
Irvinebank is a village in the western foothills of the Atherton Tablelands of Far North Queensland, Australia. Once a thriving town with an economy based on mining, milling and smelting...
. The city of Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
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.
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 FarmWindy Hill Wind Farm, Queensland
Windy Hill Wind Farm is a wind power station near Ravenshoe on the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia. Windy Hill has 20 wind turbines with a generating capacity of 12 MW of electricity, providing enough power for about 3,500 homes. The cost of the project was A$20 million...
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
Koombooloomba Dam
Koombooloomba Dam is located 39 km south west of Ravenshoe. The dam was constructed in 1960 on the Tully River system for hydroelectric power generation. It has a surface area of 1550 hectares, has an average depth of 12.9 meters and holds some 200 700 mega-litres.Koombooloomba Hydro Power...
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. There is a dirt bike track for which people come from all over the tablelands to use, and a pony club — horse riding trails the biggest and best horse riding club on the tablelands
Bush walking
Misty Mountain Wilderness trails are a network of extensive walking tracks that traverse Tully Gorge National ParkTully Gorge National Park
Tully Gorge is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 1338 km northwest of Brisbane.- Waterfalls :Follow Tully Falls Road to the Tully Gorge Lookout. Tully Falls only run in a big wet season, but the walls of rock and rainforest which plunge 300 m down to the Tully River are still an...
and Wooroonooran National Park
Wooroonooran National Park
Wooroonooran is a national park in Queensland , 1367 km northwest of Brisbane, between Innisfail and Cairns.The park is one of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area series of national parks, and is a gazetted World Heritage site...
. There are bushwalks to the Millstream Falls
Millstream Falls
Millstream Falls is found on a tributary to the Herbert River known as The Millstream, 15 km southwest of Ravenshoe, on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. Protected within the Millstream Falls National Park, the falls are accessible by road from the Kennedy...
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 10Mitre 10
Mitre 10 is the trading name of retail and trade hardware store chains, over 700 locations throughout of Australia. Operations are based on a co-operative system where the store owners are members of the national group and each has voting rights...
, a Retravision, two primary schools (Ravenshoe State School and St Teresa's Primary School) and a high school (Ravenshoe State High School).
There are plans underway to build a sports and recreation centre there because the high altitude is good for professional sports and training (about 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) above sea level on the Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
). They are going to put a 50 metres (164 ft) pool in-doors .
Local myths
It is said by locals that there is a yowieYowie
The Yowie is a creature from Australian folklore.Yowie may also refer to:*Cadbury Yowie, a confectionery from the Cadbury-Schweppes company*Yowie Bay, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia...
in the Malaan Rainforest, known as the malaan monster. There have been many reports of people seeing him over the years. There is reputed to be some sort of big cat living in the rainforest in the area as well. It is believed that the billabong known as the "Army Hole" due to its function as an army swimming spot in the war is haunted by the ghosts of several people who have drowned there over the years.