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Stanthorpe
Queensland
Stanthorpe Post Office, north-west corner Maryland and Railway Streets, Stanthorpe, 2015.JPG
Stanthorpe Post Office, 2015
Stanthorpe is located in Queensland
Stanthorpe
Stanthorpe
Location in Queensland
Population 5,406 (2016 census)
 • Density 159.94/km2 (414.2/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 4380
Elevation 690–924 m (2,264–3,031 ft)
Area 33.8 km2 (13.1 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s) Southern Downs Region
County Bentinck
Parish Stanthorpe, Broadwater, Folkestone
State electorate(s) Southern Downs
Federal Division(s) Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
21.7 °C
71 °F
9.0 °C
48 °F
757.6 mm
29.8 in
Localities around Stanthorpe:
Applethorpe Applethorpe Dalcouth
Broadwater Stanthorpe Diamondvale
Severnlea Mount Tully Kyoomba
Storm King

Stanthorpe is a rural town and locality in the Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Stanthorpe had a population of 5,406 people.

The area surrounding the town is known as the Granite Belt.

Geography

Stanthorpe was developed around Quart Pot Creek which meanders from south-east through the centre of town and then out through the south-west, where its confluence with Spring Creek forms the Severn River. Quart Pot Creek forms part of the south-western boundary of the locality, while the Severn River forms part of the south-western boundary.

The New England Highway passes through the town from Applethorpe to the north to Severnlea in the south. Originally it passed through the town centre along the main street, Maryland Street. However, it now bypasses to the west of the main developed area of the town. The Stanthorpe-Texas Road connects Stanthorpe to Broadwater to the west and then travels south-west to Texas.

The land within the boundaries of Stanthorpe is primarily used for urban purposes: housing, recreational, commercial and industrial with some undeveloped land on the hillier slopes. Although an agricultural centre of the Granite Belt, there is little agriculture within the town's boundaries. Crops grown in the surrounding area include vegetables, apples, grapes and stone fruit. Wine is also produced in the area, and sheep and cattle grazing is also prevalent.

History

Stanthorpe Post Office, north-west corner Maryland and Railway Streets, Stanthorpe, 2015
Stanthorpe Post Office, 2015
Coat of arms, Stanthorpe Post Office, 2015
Coat of arms, Stanthorpe Post Office, 2015
Fr davadi
Father Jerome Davadi, promoter of wine growing in the Stanthorpe area

Stanthorpe was founded by tin miners. People came from many countries to mine tin from 1872. Prior to 1872 this area boasted some large pastoral runs and a few prospectors in bark huts. At that time, the area was known as ‘Quart Pot Creek’. The Private Township of Stannum existed in the area along one side of the present main street. With the discovery of tin and the influx of miners and new businesses, a ‘more suitable’ name was sought by the town fathers. Thus, Stanthorpe became the name which encompassed all, as this area became for a time, the largest alluvial tin mining and mineral field in Queensland. Stanthorpe literally means 'tintown', as Stannum is Latin for 'tin' and thorpe is Middle English for 'village'.

When the tin prices fell many miners turned to farming. The subtropical highland climate was very suitable for growing cool climate fruits and vegetables. Grapes were first planted here in the 1860s with encouragement from the local Catholic parish priest Father Jerome Davadi to produce altar wine. His Italian descent made grape growing and wine production a familiar pastime and the notion caught on in the area. There were plenty of Italian settlers and wine was made for home enjoyment.

The railway reached Stanthorpe in May 1881.

The Post Office with a clock tower and an elaborate coat of arms was constructed in Maryland Street in 1901 in the Arts and Crafts style. Following Federation, the Commonwealth Government took charge of post and telegraphic services. However, they contracted the construction of post offices in Queensland to the Public Works Department of the Queensland Government and the Stanthorpe Post Office is believed to be one of the first ordered by the Commonwealth Government. It was designed by the first Commonwealth Government Architect John Smith Murdoch.

The cool dry climate was valued as an aid to health from the early nineteenth century especially for those suffering from tuberculosis or chest conditions. Following the First World War, Stanthorpe was a major resettlement area for soldiers recovering from mustard gas exposure. Many of these Soldier Settlers took up the land leased to them in the areas around Stanthorpe which now bear the names of First World War battlefields.

Heritage listings

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

Climate

Owing to its elevation, Stanthorpe features a subtropical highland climate. At an altitude of 811 metres (2,661 ft), Stanthorpe holds the record for the lowest temperature recorded in Queensland at −10.6 °C (12.9 °F) on 23 June 1961. Sleet and light snowfalls are occasionally recorded, with the most significant snowfall in over 30 years occurring on 17 July 2015.

Climate data for Stanthorpe (Stanthorpe Leslie Parade, 1957-2015)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37.8
(100.0)
37.2
(99.0)
34.2
(93.6)
30.6
(87.1)
27.3
(81.1)
22.8
(73.0)
22.2
(72.0)
30.7
(87.3)
32.2
(90.0)
35.5
(95.9)
37.0
(98.6)
38.0
(100.4)
38.0
(100.4)
Average high °C (°F) 27.4
(81.3)
26.4
(79.5)
24.9
(76.8)
22.1
(71.8)
18.4
(65.1)
15.5
(59.9)
14.8
(58.6)
16.3
(61.3)
19.6
(67.3)
22.6
(72.7)
25.2
(77.4)
27.0
(80.6)
21.7
(71.1)
Average low °C (°F) 15.6
(60.1)
15.6
(60.1)
13.8
(56.8)
9.5
(49.1)
5.4
(41.7)
2.6
(36.7)
1.0
(33.8)
2.0
(35.6)
5.1
(41.2)
8.9
(48.0)
11.9
(53.4)
14.2
(57.6)
8.8
(47.8)
Record low °C (°F) 7.0
(44.6)
3.3
(37.9)
−0.2
(31.6)
−2.2
(28.0)
−6.8
(19.8)
−10.6
(12.9)
−9.4
(15.1)
−7.8
(18.0)
−5.6
(21.9)
−2.2
(28.0)
0.0
(32.0)
4.4
(39.9)
−10.6
(12.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 97.3
(3.83)
85.8
(3.38)
65.5
(2.58)
42.7
(1.68)
46.7
(1.84)
47.2
(1.86)
49.1
(1.93)
42.3
(1.67)
51.7
(2.04)
69.4
(2.73)
75.6
(2.98)
93.5
(3.68)
766.8
(30.2)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2mm) 10.1 9.5 8.9 6.3 7.3 7.7 7.6 6.6 6.5 8.2 8.7 10.0 97.4
Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Culture

Stanthorpe Library and Regional Art Gallery

Stanthorpe library and art gallery, 2015 01
Stanthorpe library and art gallery, 2015, operated by the Southern Downs Regional Council

Stanthorpe Library and Regional Art Gallery is Lock Street beside Weeroona Park (28°39′13″S 151°55′57″E / 28.6537°S 151.9326°E / -28.6537; 151.9326 (Stanthorpe Library and Art Gallery)). Both are provided by the Southern Downs Regional Council.

Stanthorpe Heritage Museum

Shepherd's hut from Ballandean station, 2015
Shepherd's hut, built circa 1842 Ballandean station, now part of the Stanthorpe Heritage Museum
North Maryvale School Residence, 2015
North Maryvale School Residence. Built 1894, now part of the Stanthorpe Heritage Museum
Old Stanthorpe Shire Council Chambers
Old Stanthorpe Shire Council Chambers. Built in 1914, now part of the Stanthorpe Heritage Museum

The Stanthorpe Heritage Museum at 12 High Street has a number of heritage buildings relocated to the museum site and a large number of displayed items from the district's history, many unique to the Granite Belt. The relocated buildings include:

  • a shepherd's hut from the Ballandean Station (built 1876)
  • the old gaol from Willsons Downfall (built 1876)
  • the old North Maryland school residence (built 1894)
  • the old Stanthorpe Shire Council Chambers (built in 1914)
  • Ardmore House, a summer holiday house (built 1920)
  • Heath House, a residence (built 1940)

Annual events

There are local events, including the Primavera, the Australian Small Winemakers Show, the Apple & Grape Harvest Festival and the Stanthorpe Show.

Stanthorpe-brass-monkey-1942
The Brass monkey at Stanthorpe's central Post Office Square
Stanthorpe township (south-west aspect) taken from Mt Marlay lookout, Lock Street Stanthorpe Queensland Australia
South-West aspect of Stanthorpe Township as seen from Mt Marlay

Tourism

Stanthorpe and the surrounding Granite Belt and Granite Highlands area of South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales are the centre of a booming winery and national parks tourist destination. There are more than 50 wineries in the Granite Belt area. The Granite Belt national parks are Girraween, Bald Rock, Sundown, and Boonoo Boonoo. The region operates its own wine and tourism marketing body named Granite Belt Wine Country.

There is a wide range of restaurants, accommodation places and other tourist venues. Backpacking is popular and there is large demand for fruit and vegetable pickers from November until May each year.

Several private art galleries operate in Stanthorpe including the Glen Aplin Art Gallery which supports emerging artists and musicians who wish to display new works and perform at public functions.

Storm King Dam offers some good angling opportunities for Murray cod, yellowbelly and silver perch.

Amenities

Park around Quart Pot Creek, Stanthorpe, 2015 02
Park around Quart Pot Creek, 2015

Parkland has been developed along both sides of Quart Pot Creek as it flows through Stanthorpe with a network of paths for walking and cycling with bridges and other crossings.

The Southern Downs Regional Council operates the Stanthorpe Civic Centre Complex and council offices in Marsh Street (28°39′14″S 151°56′02″E / 28.6539°S 151.9339°E / -28.6539; 151.9339 (Stanthorpe Civic Centre Complex)).

Transport

Stanthorpe is on the Southern railway line. However, as at 2015, there are no scheduled passenger services operating to Stanthorpe railway station (28°39′27″S 151°56′15″E / 28.6575°S 151.9375°E / -28.6575; 151.9375 (Stanthorpe railway station)). Downs Explorer (formerly the Southern Downs Steam Railway) operates a tourist steam train most months from Warwick to Wallangarra & return, stopping in Stanthorpe.

Stanthorpe Airport is on Aerodrome Road in Applethorpe. It is a public airport operated by the Southern Downs Regional Council. There are no regular scheduled services to this airport.

Education

Stanthorpe State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at Marsh Street (28°38′59″S 151°56′03″E / 28.6498°S 151.9343°E / -28.6498; 151.9343 (Stanthorpe State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 308 students with 33 teachers (27 full-time equivalent) and 22 non-teaching staff (13 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

Stanthorpe State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at 2 McGlew Street (28°38′44″S 151°55′54″E / 28.6456°S 151.9317°E / -28.6456; 151.9317 (Stanthorpe State High School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 653 students with 57 teachers (53 full-time equivalent) and 45 non-teaching staff (31 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

St Joseph's Catholic School is a private primary and secondary (Prep-12) school at 100 High Street (28°39′10″S 151°56′17″E / 28.6528°S 151.9381°E / -28.6528; 151.9381 (St Joseph's School)).

Queensland College of Wine Tourism at 22 Caves Road (28°38′31″S 151°56′02″E / 28.6419°S 151.9340°E / -28.6419; 151.9340 (Queensland College of Wine Tourism)) offers Bachelor level degrees. The college operates in co-operation with the local Stanthorpe State High School, as well as other regional schools to provide secondary, undergraduate, and graduate certification related to wine and tourism industries.

Notable people

  • Jordan Atkins – Rugby League player for the Gold Coast Titans and Parramatta Eels
  • John Alexius Bathersby – former Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane
  • James Blundell – country music singer
  • Ben Dark – television presenter, Getaway, Nine Network
  • Jerome Davidi Roman Catholic Priest considered to be influential in establishing the fruit industry in the Granite Belt in the 1870s and 1880s
  • Jack Drake – bush poet
  • Michael Hancock – former professional rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland and Australia
  • Edith Elizabeth Harslett born 1888 London, died 1945 Stanthorpe. One of the few successful soldier settlers and very active in social affairs of the district.
  • Billy Moore – former professional rugby league footballer for the North Sydney Bears, Queensland and Australia
  • Greg Ritchie – Australian Test and one-day international cricketer

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