Ravenswood, Queensland

Ravenswood is approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) south of Mingela, and about 89 kilometres (55 mi) from Charters Towers.

After the discovery of gold in 1868 through to the early 1900s, the township flourished and grew to nearly 5000 residents and boasted 48 hotels. Several historic buildings remain from this period. Due to an industrial strike in 1912 and subsequently World War I, by 1915 mining declined and the town was deserted.

From 1879 to 1930, Ravenswood was the administrative centre for local government, initially of Ravenswood Division (1879–1903) and later of the Shire of Ravenswood (1903–1930). However, with the decline in Ravenwood's population, it was no longer financially viable to have a separate local government authority, and the Shire of Ravenswood was absorbed into the Shire of Dalrymple.[5][6]

Ravenswood Convent School opened in 1885 in association with St Patrick's Catholic Church. It closed in 1948.[7][8]

At the 2006 census Ravenswood had a population of 191.[9]

At the 2011 census Ravenswood had a population of 349 people.[1]

In August 2017, an early cemetery in Ravenswood was found by contractors using ground penetrating radar while working on Carpentaria Gold’s Ravenswood Expansion Project. The 16 graves of 9 adults and 7 children were found behind the Ravenswood State School sports oval; the burials are thought to have occurred in the late 1860s and early 1870s. Forensic archeologists will attempt to obtain DNA from the remains.[10]

Two gold mines are in operation in the area, a large opencut behind the town and an underground one at nearby Mount Wright. These days with the current mining operation, the population has grown from 200 to nearly 500. Tourism is also an important industry.

Facilities in the town include a combined general store and post office, a primary school and two pubs, the Railway and the Imperial. Fuel can be obtained from both Top Camp near the entrance to the town and the post office. Top Camp also offers meals and bungalow style accommodation.

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

• Barton Street: Mabel Mill[11]
• Barton Street: Railway Hotel[12]
• Chapel Street: Ravenswood Community Church[13]
• Deighton Street: Ravenswood Ambulance Station[14]
• Elphinstone street: London North Mine[15]
• Macrossan Street: Cake Shop[16]
• Macrossan Street: Imperial Hotel[17]
• Macrossan Street: Ravenswood Post Office[18]
• Macrossan Street: School of Arts[19]
• Macrossan Street: Shop adjacent to Thorps Building[20]
• Macrossan Street: Thorps Building[21]
• Raven Street: Ravenswood Court House and Police Station[22]
• School Street: Ravenswood School and Residence[23]
• Totley (2 km from Ravenswood): Totley Township[24]
• Via Ravenswood to Mingela Road: Pandanus Creek Battery[25]
• Reserve bounded by School Street, Cemetery Road, Railway Street and Burdekin Falls Dam Road: Ravenswood Mining Landscape and Chinese Settlement Area[26]

• List of tramways in Queensland

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ravenswood, Queensland.

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Ravenswood
• Heritage Australia: Ravenswood
• Townsville Ghost Tours: Ravenswood Overnight Ghost Town Experience