Rathdowney (historically also written as Rathdownie) is a rural town and locality in the Scenic Rim Region, Queensland, Australia.
Rathdowney (historically also written as Rathdownie) is a rural town and locality in the Scenic Rim Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Rathdowney had a population of 308 people.
History
Mununjali (also known as Mananjahli, Manaldjahli and Manandjali) is a dialect of the Yugambeh language. The Mununjali language area includes landscape within the local government boundaries of the Scenic Rim and Beaudesert Shire Councils.The first European exploration of the area was by Patrick Logan, commandant of the Moreton Bay penal colony, in 1828. The area became available for settlement in 1842. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior purchased a large freehold estate in 1876, which he named Rathdowney Station after the Murray-Prior estates in Rathdowney, Ireland.The town was named after the former Rathdowney pastoral station.Timber clearing was the first major industry in the area.Cattle grazing and dairy farming are now the main industries.
Bigriggan Provisional Schoolopened on November 1892. There were a number of temporary closures due to low student numbers before it closed in 1906. It re-opened in 1910 as Bigriggan State School but closed permanently on 25 April 1912.Rathdownie Provisional School opened on 10 February 1908. On 1 January 1909 it became Rathdownie State School.In 1914 the name was changed to Cashell's Hill State School. It closed in 1924.
Enright's General Store opened in 1909. It operated until 1971. It is commemorated by a plaque.The Beaudesert Shire Tramway was extended to Rathdowney in 1911 but closed in 1944.Rathdowney Terminus State School opened on 14 May 1912; the school's name presumably refers to the terminus of the tramway. In 1915 it was renamed Rathdowney State School.In April 1928, 116 subdivided allotments of "Telemon Estate, Beaudesert" were auctioned by Isles, Love & Co. and in conjunction with M. Selwyn Smith & Son Auctioneers. 25 dairy and agricultural farms, 72 township allotments and 19 farmlets from the estate of Chris J. Collins were available. According to the map advertising the auction, the estate was 17 miles from Beaudesert and 64 miles from Brisbane.St David's Anglican Church was dedicated in 1929.
Palen Creek Methodist Church opened on Saturday 10 May 1913. It was relocated to 39 Running Creek Road (28.2111°S 152.8680°E? / -28.2111; 152.8680? (Rathdowney Uniting (formerly Methodist) Church)) in Rathdowney in 1957. In the 1970s it was further extended with the Glenapp hall and the Barney View Lutheran Church. When the Methodist Church became part of the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977, it became the Palen Creek Uniting Church. It held its last service on Sunday 23 February 2014. It is now in private ownership.At the 2011 census, Rathdowney had a population of 434.
Weather
Things to do
There are many tours, farm stays, guest houses and other opportunities available for visitors to experience this region, which is about a 90-minute drive from Brisbane or the Gold Coast. In Autumn every year the population rises by several thousand for one day at the Rathdowney Heritage Festival, organised by the Rathdowney and District Historical Association (RADHA).
THe RADHA also operate the Rathdowney Information Centre and Historical Museum at 82 Mount Lindesay Highway (28.2120°S 152.8634°E? / -28.2120; 152.8634? (Rathdowney Information Centre and Historical Museum)). The centre presents information on natural heritage, indigenous heritage and history of white settlement from the time of the first pioneers to present day. The Glenapp railway siding was relocated as a display at the museum.Mount Maroon is 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) west of Rathdowney. At 966 metres (3,169 ft) the summit provides 360 degree views.