Middle Ridge, Queensland
Middle Ridge is a residential locality of Toowoomba in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2016 census, Middle Ridge had a population of 7,141 people.[1]
Middle Ridge Toowoomba, Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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![]() Gabbinbar Homestead, 1997 | |||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() Middle Ridge | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 27.6077°S 151.9688°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 7,141 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 821/km2 (2,126/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4350 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 8.7 km2 (3.4 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
Location | 6 km (4 mi) SSE of Toowoomba | ||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | Toowoomba Region | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Toowoomba South | ||||||||||||||
Federal Division(s) | Groom | ||||||||||||||
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Geography
Middle Ridge is located 6 kilometres (4 mi) from the Toowoomba city centre.
History
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Middle Ridge was named in the 1860s, as the area between East and West Creeks where the teamsters who camped at Toowoomba turned their teams loose to graze.[2]
The Shire of Middle Ridge, a local government area, existed from 1880 to 1917.[3][4] The shire's centre was at the intersection of Stenner and Hume Streets (27.5934°S 151.9521°E) now the north-western corner of the locality of Middle Ridge where there was the shire hall, the school and a church.[5]
Between 1958 and 1961 three motor racing events took place at Middle Ridge, to coincide with the 'Carnival of the Flowers' in September.[6] A rectangular circuit using Stenner Street-Mackenzie Street-Alderley Street-Rowbotham Street was run in an anti-clockwise direction.[7] There have been several reasons given why racing stopped after 1961 - local farmers claimed that the races stopped their chickens laying eggs; the carnival organisers believed that loud racing engines were incompatible with flowers; or that the races were pulling spectators away from other Carnival events.[6]
Middle Ridge State School opened on 27 May 1884.[8]
Education
Middle Ridge State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 203 Spring Street (27.6017°S 151.9564°E).[9][10] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 827 students with 65 teachers (53 full-time equivalent) and 33 non-teaching staff (20 full-time equivalent).[11] It includes a special education program.[9]
Community groups
Several sporting facilities are also located in Middle Ridge: the Echo Valley Motor Sport Complex (home to the Toowoomba Auto Club and Toowoomba Motocross Club), the Valleys rugby league club, and Toowoomba Golf Club.[12]
The Middle Ridge branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 95 Preston-Boundary Road, Preston.[13]
Heritage listings
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Middle Ridge is home to the heritage-listed Gabbinbar homestead 344-376 Ramsay Street (27.6115°S 151.9597°E).[14]
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Middle Ridge (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- "Middle Ridge - locality in Toowoomba Region (entry 48000)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
- "Shire of Middle Ridge". Queensland Government Gazette. 22 May 1880. p. 26:1143.
- "Official Notifications". The Queenslander. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 29 May 1880. p. 679. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
- "Middle Ridge". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- Walker, Terry (1995). Fast Tracks - Australia's Motor Racing Circuits 1904-1995. Sydney: Turton & Armstrong. p. 98. ISBN 0908031556.
- Galpin, Darren. "Middle Ridge". GEL Motorsport Information Page. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
- "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- "Middle Ridge State School". Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- Brisway Publishing (2008). Brisway: Greater Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Toowoomba. p. Map T261. ISBN 978-0-909439-30-9.
- "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- "Gabbinbar (entry 600840)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
External links
- "Middle Ridge". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.