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
Gabbinbar Homestead, 1997
Middle Ridge
Coordinates27.6077°S 151.9688°E / -27.6077; 151.9688
Population7,141 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density821/km2 (2,126/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4350
Area8.7 km2 (3.4 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location6 km (4 mi) SSE of Toowoomba
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

Geography

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

History
Carl Ludwig Heuschele and his wife Anna Catherina (nee Berghofer) with family at Middle Ridge, circa 1890

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 / -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.[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 / -27.6017; 151.9564 (Middle Ridge State School)).[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
Entrance building to Gabbinbar homestead, 2014

Middle Ridge is home to the heritage-listed Gabbinbar homestead 344-376 Ramsay Street (27.6115°S 151.9597°E / -27.6115; 151.9597 (Gabbinbar Homestead)).[14]

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