Irvinebank
town
Stateqld
Coordinates17.4275°S 145.205°E
Zoom9
Pop113
Postcode4887
Area740.1
Time zoneAEST
Utc+10:00
Dist 125.8
Dir 1WSW
Location 1Herberton
Dist 245.2
Dir 2S
Location 2Atherton
Dist 377.9
Dir 3SSW
Location 3Mareeba
Dist 4122
Dir 4SW
Location 4Cairns
Dist 51708
Dir 5NNW
Location 5Brisbane
LgaShire of Mareeba
StategovHill
FedgovKennedy
Elevation750
Near-nMutchilba
Near-neWatsonville
Near-eSilver Valley
Near-seSilver Valley
Near-sMount Garnet
Near-swMunderra
Near-wPetford
Near-nwDimbulah

Irvinebank is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia.[1][2] In the , the locality of Irvinebank had a population of 113 people.[3]

Geography

The Great Dividing Range forms the south-eastern and southern boundary of the locality.[4]

Irvinebank is in the western foothills of the Atherton Tablelands of Far North Queensland, 123 kilometres (76 mi) south-west of Cairns via the Bruce Highway, Gillies Range Road, State Route 25 (bypassing Atherton) and the Herberton Petford Road. From further west it can be accessed from the Burke Developmental Road at Petford.

The terrain is generally mountainous with the following named peaks:

History

First known as Gibbs Camp, the town was founded in 1884 by John Moffat, who had purchased the mining leases from the original prospectors. From 1889 he owned the Vulcan tin mine. He built a dam, a mill, smelters and other infrastructure that attracted settlers and miners to the area.[17] Moffat was born at Newmilns, Ayrshire, Scotland, which is situated on the River Irvine, and it is assumed he named the town Irvinebank in honour of his home town.[1][2] Irvinebank became a thriving town with an economy based on mining, milling and smelting.

In late 1884, Irvinebank became famous for a massacre of Aboriginal Australians and a subsequent inquiry. In October of that year a Native Police patrol led by officers William Nichols and Roland Garraway conducted a series of raids in the area during which an Aboriginal camp was fired upon. An old man, two women and a 6-year-old child were killed. Another two Aboriginal men were arrested, never to be seen again.[18] John Moffat alerted authorities and an investigation was held. Seven troopers were later charged with murder and Sub-inspector Nichols was charged with being an accessory. At a trial in Townsville the magistrate concluded there was no case against Nichols and he was discharged "amid considerable applause".[19] The troopers were remanded in custody and in October 1885 they too were discharged.[20] Nichols, however, was dismissed from the Native Police by the Queensland government and the Irvinebank massacre is regarded as a turning point away from the policy of indiscriminate killing of Indigenous people in the colony.[21]

Irvinebank Post Office opened on 1 June 1885 (a receiving office had been open from 1884).[22]

Irvinebank Provisional School opened on 27 September 1886. On 1 August 1890 it became Irvinebank State School.[23]

Montalbion State School opened c. 1888 and closed in 1906.[23]

Stannary Hills Provisional School opened on 18 January 1904. In 1907, it became Stannary Hills State School. It closed c. 1931.[23]

Rocky Bluffs Provisional School opened in 1904 and closed in 1910.[23]

Gurrumba Provisional School opened in 1907. On 1 January 1909, it became Gurrumba Provisional School. It closed c. 1916.[23]

Hale's Siding Provisional School opened on 22 February 1915 and closed in February 1922.[24]

Although currently and historically within the Shire of Mareeba, between 2008 and 2013, the Shire of Mareeba (and hence Invinebank) was within the Tablelands Region) until 2014 when the shire was re-instated following a vote by the residents.[25]

Demographics

In the ten years up to the 1911 census the population had swelled from 619 to 1264, but another 10 years saw it reduced back to only 607 and continued to fall.[26]

In the , Irvinebank had a population of 311 people.[27]

In the , the locality of Irvinebank had a population of 125 people.[28]

In the , the locality of Irvinebank had a population of 113 people.[3]

Heritage listings

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

Education

Irvinebank State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at High Street (17.4268°S 145.2041°E).[36][37] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 9 students with 2 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 4 non-teaching staff (1 full-time equivalent).[38]There are no secondary schools in Irvinebank. The nearest government secondary schools are Dimbulah State School (to Year 10) in neighbouring Dimbulah to the north-west and Herberton State School (to Year 10) in Herberton to the east. Catholic secondary education to Year 12 is available in Herberton, while the nearest government secondary school offering schooling to Year 12 is Atherton State High School in Atherton to the north-east;[4] Given the size of the locality, some children might live too far away to attend any of these schools; distance education and boarding schools would be other options.[39]

Facilities

Irvinebank Post Office is at 16 O'Callaghan Street (17.4287°S 145.2049°E).[40]

Irvinebank Rural Fire Station is on Jessie Street in the town (17.4292°S 145.2054°E).[41][42]

Irvinebank Cemetery is on Cemetery Road off the Herberton Petford Road just to the south-west of the town (17.4333°S 145.1944°E).[43][44]

Montalbion Pioneer Cemetery is in the former town of Montalbion along a signed dirt track off the Herberton Petford Road (17.4051°S 145.1539°E). It is no longer open for burials.[43][44]

Amenities

Irvinebank School of Arts is a public hall at 2633 Herberton Petford Road (17.4285°S 145.2047°E).[45] There are a number of monuments and memorials there, including:

Irvinebank Tavern is at 2656 Herberton Petford Road (17.4278°S 145.2027°E). It provides meals, cabin accommodation and petrol.[49][50]

Attractions

Loudoun House Museum is at 16 O'Callaghan Street in heritage-listed Loudon House (17.4289°S 145.2045°E). The museum presents the local history of the area and has resources for family history.[51]

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ^ Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  2. ^ Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  3. ^
  4. ^
  5. ^ "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived 25 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  6. ^ Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  7. ^ Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  8. ^ Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  9. ^ Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  10. ^ Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  11. ^ Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  12. ^ Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  13. ^ Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  14. ^ Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  15. ^ Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  16. ^ Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Irvinebank History". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  18. ^ "Alleged Slaughter of Aborigines.". The Queenslander. Vol. XXVI, no. 478. 22 November 1884. p. 845. Archived 20 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 February 2021. – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "The Irvinebank Murders.". The Queenslander. Vol. XXVII, no. 489. 7 February 1885. p. 227. Retrieved 14 February 2021. – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Intercolonial.". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. XL, no. 1323. 14 November 1885. p. 1035. Archived 20 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 February 2021. – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ Loos, Noel (2017). Invasion and Resistance. Brisbane: Boolarong.
  22. ^ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived 15 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  23. ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present, Version 1.01 ed., Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  24. ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present, Version 1.01 ed., Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  25. ^ "De-amalgamation in Queensland | Local Government Commission". www.lgc.govt.nz. Archived 2 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  26. ^ "Irvinebank - Queensland Places". Archived 5 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  27. ^
  28. ^
  29. ^ Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  30. ^ Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  31. ^ Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  32. ^ Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  33. ^ Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  34. ^ Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  35. ^ Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  36. ^ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived 21 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  37. ^ "Irvinebank State School". Archived 1 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  38. ^ "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived 27 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  39. ^ "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived 19 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  40. ^ "Irvinebank CPA". Australia Post. Archived 21 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  41. ^ "Emergency services facilities - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived 24 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  42. ^ "Irvinebank Rural Fire Brigade". Irvinebank Rural Fire Brigade. Archived 21 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  43. ^ "Cemetery Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived 15 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  44. ^ "Cemeteries". Mareeba Shire Council. Archived 15 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  45. ^ "Building areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived 23 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  46. ^ "John Moffat". Monument Australia. Archived 21 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  47. ^ "Allan Ferguson Waddell". Monument Australia. Archived 21 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  48. ^ "Irvinebank Roll of Honour". Monument Australia. Archived 21 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  49. ^ "Building points - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived 25 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  50. ^ "The Irvinebank Tavern". www.athertontablelandnetguide.com. Archived 30 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  51. ^ "Loudoun House Museum". Irvinebank Heritage Town, Queensland, Australia. 2016-03-16. Archived 29 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-02-20.

Further reading

  • Dillon, P. A. (2021). The Irvinebank Massacre / Paul Dillon.. Connor Court Publishing. ISBN 9781922449504.