Middle Ridge, Queensland

Middle Ridge
Toowoomba, Queensland
Gabbinbar Homestead, 1997
Middle Ridge
Coordinates27°36′28″S 151°58′08″E / 27.6077°S 151.9688°E / -27.6077; 151.9688 (Middle Ridge (centre of locality))
Population7,595 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density873/km2 (2,261/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4350
Elevation420–670 m (1,378–2,198 ft)
Area8.7 km2 (3.4 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Toowoomba Region
State electorate(s)Toowoomba South
Federal division(s)Groom
Suburbs around Middle Ridge:
Kearneys Spring Centenary Heights Rangeville
Kearneys Spring Middle Ridge Silver Ridge
Kearneys Spring Preston Upper Flagstone

Middle Ridge is a residential locality of Toowoomba in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2021 census, Middle Ridge had a population of 7,595 people.[1]

Geography

Middle Ridge is located 6 kilometres (4 mi) from the Toowoomba city centre.

The Great Dividing Range passes through Middle Ridge from the north-west to the south-east. The area west of the range is on the Darling Downs at 660 to 670 metres (2,170 to 2,200 ft) above sea level and is a residential area. The area east of the range falls rapidly to as low as 420 metres (1,380 ft) above sea level.[3]

History

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.[4][5] The shire's centre was at the intersection of Stenner and Hume Streets (27°35′36″S 151°57′08″E / 27.5934°S 151.9521°E / -27.5934; 151.9521 (Intersection of Hume Street and Stenner Street, Middle Ridge (centre of the historical Shire of Middle Ridge))) now the north-western corner of the locality of Middle Ridge where there was the shire hall, the school and a church.[6]

Middle Ridge State School opened on 27 May 1884.[7]

Between 1958 and 1961 three motor racing events took place at Middle Ridge, to coincide with the Carnival of Flowers in September.[8] A rectangular circuit using Stenner Street-Mackenzie Street-Alderley Street-Rowbotham Street was run in an anti-clockwise direction.[9] 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.[8]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Middle Ridge had a population of 7,141 people.[10]

In the 2021 census, Middle Ridge had a population of 7,595 people.[1]

Education

Middle Ridge State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 203 Spring Street (27°36′06″S 151°57′23″E / 27.6017°S 151.9564°E / -27.6017; 151.9564 (Middle Ridge State School)).[11][12] 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).[13] It includes a special education program.[11]

The Tooowoomba campus of OneSchool Global (formerly known as the Agnew School) is at 40 Gerrard Street, Middle Ridge (27°35′55″S 151°57′22″E / 27.5987°S 151.9562°E / -27.5987; 151.9562 (OneSchool Global)). It is a primary and secondary school (Years 3-12) operated by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.[14][15] As at 26 October 2024, it has an enrolment of 66 students.[14]

There are no government secondary schools in Middle Ridge. The nearest government secondary school is Centenary Heights State High School in neighbouring Centenary Heights to the north.[3]

Heritage listings

Middle Ridge is home to the heritage-listed Gabbinbar homestead 344-376 Ramsay Street (27°36′41″S 151°57′35″E / 27.6115°S 151.9597°E / -27.6115; 151.9597 (Gabbinbar Homestead)).[16]

Amenities

The Toowoomba Golf Club is at 245 Rowbotham Street (27°36′08″S 151°58′36″E / 27.6022°S 151.9767°E / -27.6022; 151.9767 (Toowoomba Golf Club)).[17] It has an 18-hole golf course.[18]

Other sporting facilities at Middle Ridge include: the Echo Valley Motor Sport Complex (home to the Toowoomba Auto Club and Toowoomba Motocross Club) and the Valleys rugby league club.[19]

The Middle Ridge branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 95 Preston-Boundary Road, Preston.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Middle Ridge (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Middle Ridge – locality in Toowoomba Region (entry 48000)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Shire of Middle Ridge". Queensland Government Gazette. 22 May 1880. p. 26:1143.
  5. ^ "Official Notifications". The Queenslander. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 29 May 1880. p. 679. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  8. ^ a b Walker, Terry (1995). Fast Tracks - Australia's Motor Racing Circuits 1904-1995. Sydney: Turton & Armstrong. p. 98. ISBN 0908031556.
  9. ^ Galpin, Darren. "Middle Ridge". GEL Motorsport Information Page. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  10. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Middle Ridge (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  11. ^ a b "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Middle Ridge State School". Middle Ridge State School. 5 September 2022. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  13. ^ "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Toowoomba". OneSchool Global. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  15. ^ "About Us - OneSchool Global". 15 March 2019. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Gabbinbar (entry 600840)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  17. ^ "Golf at Toowoomba Golf Club". Golf at Toowoomba Golf Club. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Golf at Toowoomba GC". Golf at Toowoomba Golf Club. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  19. ^ Brisway Publishing (2008). Brisway: Greater Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Toowoomba. p. Map T261. ISBN 978-0-909439-30-9.
  20. ^ "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Middle Ridge, Queensland.
  • "Middle Ridge". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
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