It is historically and currently a gold mining town.
Geography
The Flinders Highway loosely bounds parts of the north-western boundary of the locality, entering from the north-east (Reid River) and exiting to the west (Broughton).[4] The Great Northern railway line takes a similar route to the highway mostly immediately parallel to the highway to the north or the south, with the following stations:
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.
Silver was discovered in the area in 1870 by W. Stable.[13]
Ravenswood State School opened on 27 October 1873.[14]
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.[15][16]
Ravenswood Convent School opened in 1885 in association with St Patrick's Catholic Church. It closed in 1948.[14][17]
Sandy Creek Provisional School opened on 26 June 1885. In 1886 it was renamed Evlinton Provisional School. On 1 January 1909 it became Evlington State School. It closed in 1921.[14]
Kirk River Provisional School opened on 1 October 1890. On 1 June 1929 it became Kirk River State School, but then closed on 8 May 1930. In 1934 it reopened as Kirk River Provisional School. It closed in 1944.[14]
Kirk Diggings Provisional School opened on 1903 but closed and reopened a number of times before finally closing circa 1918.[14]
Pandanus Creek Provisional School opened in 1909, becoming Pandanus Creek State School on 1 May 1909. It closed in 1926.[14]
At the 2006 census, the town of Ravenswood had a population of 191 people.[18]
At the 2011 census, the locality of Ravenswood had a population of 349 people.[19]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Ravenswood had a population of 255 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.[20]
A major expansion to the local gold mining industry was announced in 2020.[21]
Heritage listings
Ravenswood has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Two gold mines are in operation in the area; a large open cast pit behind the town and an underground one at nearby Mount Wright. With the resurgence of mining in recent years, the population has grown from 200[when?] to nearly 500. Tourism is also important.
Due to the extensive size of this locality, the distances involved to travel to either or both of these schools may make it impossible to attend.[4]Distance education and boarding schools are the other options.
Amenities
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.
