Storm clouds over the main street, Ravenshoe

Ravenshoe
Controversial timber town in the Atherton Tablelands.
In the 1980s Ravenshoe was the site of a number of major battles between environmentalists and timber workers. A rather battered sign on the way into town proudly announces: 'The Timber Town of Ravenshoe'. This is a town with a past history of timber working and a present which is about a radically different set of values.

Located 147 km south-west of Cairns and 904 m above sea-level, Ravenshoe can claim to be the highest town in Queensland. The temperature is typically mild, rarely exceeding 26°C which means that it has an attraction for people wanting to escape the heat and humidity of the coast.

An indication of the town's future was apparent in the first European visitation. In 1881 William Mazlin discovered substantial stands of cedar in the area and named the local river (later to become the settlement) Cedar Creek. The first sawmill was built in 1899 but the town wasn't settled to any significant extent until 1910 mainly because of the difficulties involved in getting timber from the Tablelands down to the coast. By this time the railway line had reached Millaa Millaa and bullock teams could haul the timber to the railhead.

For seventy years Ravenshoe relied on timber for its economic survival and its sawmills produced high quality rainforest timbers for markets in Australia and overseas.

However, the town became the centre of media attention in September 1987 when Environment Minister Graham Richardson was jostled by angry crowds of timber workers during a visit to the area. Richardson was there to nominate 900 000 hectares of rainforest around Ravenshoe for World Heritage Listing. 160 000 hectares of this land had previously been set aside for timber production. The locals in Ravenshoe argued that if they were not allowed to log the rainforest then the town would die.

The irony of all this is that, following this incident, 'alternative lifestyle' people moved into the area thereby giving the town a new lease of life. Today the town is reasonably prosperous although the 'alternative lifestyle' community are less in evidence than they were a decade ago.

Things to see:  

The Falls
Ravenshoe is the access point for both the Little Millstream Falls (2 km south on the Tully Gorge Rd, signposted off the Kennedy Highway) and the Tully Falls (24 km south on the same road).

The Millstream Falls are said to be the widest in Australia. Head west along the Kennedy Highway for 5 km and take the turnoff to the right. The falls are another kilometre along this road.

The Tully Falls are regarded as some of the most dramatic and beautiful falls in north Queensland.

The Millstream Express
A ride on this steam train is a good way to see the area. It journeys 7 km north to Tumoulin at 2.30 every Saturday and Sunday from April to January, tel: (07) 4097 6005.

	Tourist Information
	Ravenshoe Visitor Centre 24 Moore St Ravenshoe QLD 4872 Telephone: (07) 4097 7700
	Motels
	Kool Moon Motel 6 Moore St Ravenshoe QLD 4872 Telephone: (07) 4097 6407 Rating: **
	Tall Timbers Motel Kennedy Hwy Ravenshoe QLD 4872 Telephone: (07) 4097 6325 Rating: **
	Hotels
	Club Hotel/Motel 47 Grigg St Ravenshoe QLD 4872 Telephone: (07) 4097 6109 Rating: **
	Tully Falls Hotel Grigg St Ravenshoe QLD 4872 Telephone: (07) 4097 6136
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Millstream Retreat 12028 Kennedy Hwy Ravenshoe QLD 4888 Telephone: (07) 4097 6785 Facsimile: (07) 4097 6785
	Cottages & Cabins
	Millstream Retreat 12028 Kennedy Hwy Ravenshoe QLD 4888 Telephone: (07) 4097 6785 Facsimile: (07) 4097 6785
	Caravan Parks
	Tall Timbers Caravan Park Kennedy Hwy Ravenshoe QLD 4872 Telephone: (07) 4097 6325 Rating: *
	Restaurants
	Club Hotel/Motel 47 Grigg St Ravenshoe QLD 4872 Telephone: (07) 4097 6109
	Tall Timbers Kennedy Hwy Ravenshoe QLD 4872 Telephone: (07) 4097 6325