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.[2][3] 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 on 1904 and closed on 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]
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.[25]
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.[27]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Irvinebank had a population of 125 people.[28] In the 2021 census, this decreased to 113.[1]
Heritage listingsedit
Irvinebank has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Irvinebank State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at High Street (17°25′36″S145°12′15″E / 17.4268°S 145.2041°E / -17.4268; 145.2041 (Irvinebank State School)).[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 is no secondary school 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.
Facilitiesedit
Irvinebank Post Office is at 16 O'Callaghan Street (17°25′43″S145°12′18″E / 17.4287°S 145.2049°E / -17.4287; 145.2049 (Irvinebank Post Office)).[39]
Irvinebank Rural Fire Station is on Jessie Street in the town (17°25′45″S145°12′19″E / 17.4292°S 145.2054°E / -17.4292; 145.2054 (Irvinebank Rural Fire Station)).[40][41]
Irvinebank Cemetery is on Cemetery Road off the Herberton Petford Road just to the south-west of the town (17°26′00″S145°11′40″E / 17.4333°S 145.1944°E / -17.4333; 145.1944 (Irvinebank Cemetery)).[42][43]
Montalbion Pioneer Cemetery is in the former town of Montalbion along a signed dirt track off the Herberton Petford Road (17°24′18″S145°09′14″E / 17.4051°S 145.1539°E / -17.4051; 145.1539 (Montalbion Pioneer Cemetery)). It is no longer open for burials.[42][43]
Amenitiesedit
Irvinebank School of Arts is a public hall at 2633 Herberton Petford Road (17°25′43″S145°12′17″E / 17.4285°S 145.2047°E / -17.4285; 145.2047 (Irvinebank School of Arts)).[44] There are a number of monuments and memorials there, including:
Irvinebank Roll of Honour, commemorating those from the town who served in World War I[47]
Irvinebank Tavern is at 2656 Herberton Petford Road (17°25′40″S145°12′10″E / 17.4278°S 145.2027°E / -17.4278; 145.2027 (Irvinebank Tavern)). It provides meals, cabin accommodation and petrol.[48][49]
Attractionsedit
Loudoun House Museum is at 16 O'Callaghan Street in heritage-listed Loudon House (17°25′44″S145°12′16″E / 17.4289°S 145.2045°E / -17.4289; 145.2045 (Loudon House (Museum))). The museum presents the local history of the area and has resources for family history.[50]
^ abcdefghijkl"Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^"Billing Knob – mountain in Mareeba Shire (entry 2590)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^"Boot Hill – mountain in Mareeba Shire (entry 3822)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^"Elizabeth Bluffs – mountain in Mareeba Shire (entry 11491)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^"Geebung Hill – mountain in Mareeba Shire (entry 13547)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^"Giblets Peak – mountain in Mareeba Shire (entry 13669)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^"Hermit Hill – mountain in Mareeba Shire (entry 15786)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^"Iron Mountain – mountain in Mareeba Shire (entry 16791)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^"Lead Hill – mountain in Mareeba Shire (entry 19096)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^"Mount Babinda – mountain in Mareeba Shire (entry 1085)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^"Mount Luxton – mountain in Mareeba Shire (entry 20279)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^"Mount Misery – mountain in Mareeba Shire (entry 22291)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^"Irvinebank History". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
^"Alleged Slaughter of Aborigines". The Queenslander. Vol. XXVI, no. 478. Queensland, Australia. 22 November 1884. p. 845. Archived from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"The Irvinebank Murders". The Queenslander. Vol. XXVII, no. 489. Queensland, Australia. 7 February 1885. p. 227. Retrieved 14 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Intercolonial". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. XL, no. 1323. New South Wales, Australia. 14 November 1885. p. 1035. Archived from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^Loos, Noel (2017). Invasion and Resistance. Brisbane: Boolarong.
^Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
^Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
^"Irvinebank - Queensland Places". Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
^Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Irvinebank (Mareeba Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
^"De-amalgamation in Queensland | Local Government Commission". www.lgc.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
^"Irvinebank CPA". Australia Post. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
^"Emergency services facilities - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
^"Irvinebank Rural Fire Brigade". Irvinebank Rural Fire Brigade. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
^ ab"Cemetery Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
^ ab"Cemeteries". Mareeba Shire Council. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
^"Building areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
^"John Moffat". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
^"Allan Ferguson Waddell". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
^"Irvinebank Roll of Honour". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
^"Building points - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^"The Irvinebank Tavern". www.athertontablelandnetguide.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
^"Loudoun House Museum". Irvinebank Heritage Town, Queensland, Australia. 16 March 2016. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
On the Irvinebank Massacre 1884:
Dillon Paul, The Irvinebank Massacre, ISBN 9781922449498, Connor Court Publishing, Brisbane, 2021.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Irvinebank, Queensland.
"Irvinebank". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
"Irvinebank School of Arts and Progress Association". Archived from the original on 20 February 2021.
O'Callaghan, Mike. "History of Irvinebank". Archived from the original on 20 February 2021.